Almost a dozen British athletes will make the long journey down below to Bathurst for forty-fourth version of the occasion
As we method the 2023 World Cross Country Championships [February 18], the headlines thus far have focused on the British athletes now no longer making the 20,000-mile round-journey in preference to individuals who are certainly going.
The largest instance of this is Innes FitzGerald, Britain`s main junior lady staying power athlete, who wrote to UKA explaining that “the truth of the tour crammed her with deep concern”.
The 16-year-vintage from Devon positioned fourth withinside the below-20 womens race at remaining years European Cross Country Championships.
On her Euro Cross journey to Turin, she took in a single day teach to Lille earlier than catching a educate to Turin through Paris.
The lengthy journey to Australia delivered the reality that this year`s version takes location in February – withinside the center of the indoor season – and now no longer the standard slot of March, a method that athletes who had been thinking about have determined now no longer to ee-e book their price tag at the plane.
However, Great Britain may have illustrations throughout all races on the championships.
Megan Keith, the European below-23 silver medallist, makes the step up in age institution as she is chosen for the senior crew.
The Scottish athlete received on the British Athletics Cross Challenge occasion in Perth on January 14 and began out 2023 in which she left off the remaining year.
She might be joined by Abbie Donnelly, who completed withinside the pinnacle 12 withinside the senior race at the European Cross Country Championships in December, even as Amelia Quirk and Poppy Tank whole the senior women`s quartet.
With numerous eligible athletes now no longer to be had for selection, Zak Mahamed is the only consultant withinside the senior men’s crew. The Southampton-primarily based totally athlete completed 2d at the back of Charles Hicks withinside the below-23 men’s race on the remaining year`s Euro Cross and could earn his first senior cap.
Great Britain, for the primary time, may even ship a crew withinside the blended relay.
Olympic 800m finalist Alex Bell headlines the foursome and brings a wealth of revel into the crew. The Pudsey and Bramley athlete anchored the British crew to gold at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships in Dublin.
Joining her is Alexandra Millard, who received a man or woman bronze medal withinside the below-23 race on the current European Cross in Turin. Callum Elson and Joe Wigfield also are at the plane.
Finally, withinside the below-20 races, 8 athletes were decided on to take at the pleasant withinside the global withinside the age institution.
Sam Mills and Luke Birdseye, fourth and 5th withinside the below-20 race in remaining December`s Euro Cross respectively, Edward Bird and Jacob Deacon are a part of a sturdy line-up for the age institution.
Rebecca Flaherty, who claimed silver for Great Britain at the remaining year’s World Mountain Running Championships is joined by Megan Harris, Hannah Ryding,000 and Zoe Gilbody withinside the women’s crew.
“We are thrilled to be taking this crew to the World Athletics Cross Country Championships later this month,” Steve Vernon, World Class Programme Endurance Performance Manager at UK Athletics said. “The occasion is a prestigious one withinside the athletics calendar, so we’re thrilled to have sturdy illustrations in each area in Australia.
“The World Cross Country Championships is a stepping-stone toward fulfillment at destiny international song and discipline championships, and this is in step with the overarching Endurance approach for UK Athletics. This may also be a tremendous improvement possibility for plenty of athletes, and crucial as we construct toward destiny foremost Cross Country Championships, together with the Worlds in Croatia subsequent year.
“Bathurst will offer top-notch revel into all the ones decided on, and we sit up for seeing how they carry out on the worldwide stage.”
Full crew:
Senior women: Abbie Donnelly, Megan Keith, Amelia Quirk, Poppy Tank
Senior men: Zakariya Mahamed
Senior blended relay: Alex Bell, Callum Elson, Alexandra Millard, Joe Wigfield
U20 women: Rebecca Flaherty, Zoe Gilbody, Megan Harris, Hannah Ryding
U20 men: Edward Bird, Luke Birdseye, Jacob Deacon, Sam Mills
