Liverpool Cross Challenge sees big wins for Kate Axford and Tomer Tarragano as Innes FitzGerald and Henry Dover take junior wins
The Liverpool Cross Challenge lived up to expectations on Saturday (Nov 23) as it unfolded in the muddy terrain of Sefton Park, a familiar challenge thanks to the typical British weather.
The event, which doubled up as the European Cross Country Championship trials, saw thousands of athletes vying for a place on the British team heading to Antalya, Turkey, which will take place on December 8.
Rain showers, which conveniently coincided with each race, left the course even more challenging, but the conditions did little to dampen the competitive spirit. Spectators were treated to thrilling head-to-head battles, with several athletes marking significant milestones, including earning their first GB vests.
Among the standout performances was Kate Axford from Belgrave Harriers, who is in the form of her life. After finishing as the top Brit at the Cardiff Cross Challenge earlier this month, Axford was one of the pre-race favourites in Liverpool – and she delivered.
Running with the lead pack for most of the race, she surged ahead in the final stretch to claim victory and secure her place on the GB team for the Euro Cross.
Axford, a former hockey international who has only been running competitively since 2023, said: “It felt hard, it was a tough run out there and the weather threw everything at us and more.
“I felt amazing, I was trying to crack on and keep strong. Cardiff was when I realised that I could maybe win here. I came into it confident but whilst giving respect to everyone around me and it’s going to be an incredible team going into the Euro Cross and hopefully a team gold will happen.”
She will now lead a strong British squad, which includes Cari Hughes, Poppy Tank and Abbie Donnelly. Hughes, from Wales, impressed with a determined second place, mirroring her result as second Brit in Cardiff. Her performance suggests she’ll be a serious contender in Antalya.
Tank, who had been focused on the steeplechase during the summer season, got familiar with her cross country ways again and earned a well-deserved bronze in Liverpool. This year she placed sixth at the British Championships in the steeplechase and will now look to improve on her 11th place at last year’s Euro Cross.
Meanwhile, Abbie Donnelly, last year’s European Cross bronze medallist, finished fourth, two places lower than her result in 2023. The Brit will be hoping to climb back into the podium in Antalya as she seeks to build on her previous success.
In the men’s race, all eyes were on Hugo Milner, the defending champion from last year’s event, as well as the fourth-place finisher at the Euro Cross in 2023. However, it was Tomer Tarragano from Brighton and Hove AC who crossed the line first, claiming the victory.
Tarragano, who has represented Great Britain at the under-23 level at the Euro Cross in both 2022 and 2023, finished 37th and 27th in those years, respectively. But this time, after moving up to the senior category, the 23-year-old showed his progression with an impressive performance.
Having not raced since July, his victory was a significant achievement. He told AW: “I’ve looked at this senior race as the pinnacle of the cross season so to be out there competing with the guys is really cool.”
Milner, who was aiming to defend his title, finishing behind Tarragano but secured his place on the British team for Antalya. He’s determined to improve on his fourth place at last year’s Euro Cross.
The men’s race in Turkey is expected to be a fierce contest, especially with Jakob Ingebrigtsen set to compete, but Milner remains confident. “I’ve seen Jake Wightman, Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker beat him, so why not me?” he said.
Joining the pair on the senior men’s team are Scott Beattie and Ellis Cross, who finished third and fourth, respectively. Both athletes made improvements from last year’s challenge, with Beattie finishing 20th and Cross in 27th.
Rory Leonard finished fifth, while Calum Johnson and Alfie Manthorpe finished sixth and seventh respectively.
The race unfolded with a unique twist, as the under-23 athletes competed alongside the senior runners, but with a shorter course and earlier finish. The set-up created an interesting dynamic for spectators, who watched as the younger competitors peeled off for the finish line while the senior race continued on.
For David Stone, it was the perfect return to form. The Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers athlete, who has battled injury setbacks over the past two years, made an impressive comeback to defeat last year’s Euro Cross under-23 champion, Will Barnicoat.
This marked his first competition of the year, as he had missed out on last year’s trials due to an injury that required two surgeries. His last full competitive season was in 2019 and his victory in Liverpool shows that his patience and determination has paid off.
Barnicoat, who had to settle for silver, still produced a strong performance and will be a key contender in Turkey.
Joining Stone and Barnicoat in the squad are Peter Molloy and Brett Rushman, who finished third and fourth respectively. Molloy, from Scotland, was visibly emotional as he crossed the line, embraced by family and friends who cheered, “you did it!”
In the women’s under-23 race, Meg Gadsby from City of Norwich AC claimed a dominant victory, finishing ahead of Kate Willis, Mia Waldmann and Poppy Craig-McFeely, who all secured their spots for Turkey as the top four were guaranteed selection.
Meanwhile, in the junior races, Innes FitzGerald produced the standout performance of the day, claiming another victory in the combined women’s under-17 and under-20 trials race.
The 18-year-old ran almost the entire race solo, sending a strong message ahead of her European Cross title defence in Turkey. FitzGerald, who is the reigning champion, will be hoping to repeat her success and clinch another gold medal.
“Going to the Euro Cross is a lot of pressure but I’m really excited,” she said. “I know I’ve got a big job on my hands but I’ve just got to fight and keep fighting and hopefully I can come away with the win again.
“The win today gave me a lot of confidence, it has shown that I do have the legs and now I just have to go out and execute it.”
FitzGerald finished a clear 31 seconds ahead of Jess Bailey, who took second place with a strong performance. Lizzie Wellsted followed in third, with Zoe Gilbody, Isobelle Jones, and Eleanor Strevens rounding out the top six.
In the men’s junior race, Henry Dover, last year’s Liverpool champion, successfully defended his title with another strong victory. Dover, who finished sixth at last year’s Euro Cross, was already celebrating 30 seconds before the finish line, encouraging the crowd as he crossed in first place.
An awesome display from Henry Dover sees him win by three seconds in a pulsating junior men’s race at the Liverpool Cross Challenge
Dover saw off the challenge of Will Rabjohns, Oli Conway and others in a high quality affair pic.twitter.com/DQKzuyDGo3
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) November 23, 2024
Just three seconds behind him was William Rabjohns, who won at Cardiff earlier this month. Oliver Conway finished third, with Miles Waterworth, Quinn Miell-Ingram, Noah Campion, Mark Ruby and Abdirahim Hamud rounding out the top eight. Only the top five in the junior races are guaranteed selection for the Euro Cross, however.
Leading under-17 athletes in the junior races were Hamud and Ellarose Whitworth.
Kara Gorman of Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow AC powered to victory in the under-15 girls’ race ahead of Kitty Scott and Summer Smith.
Arguably the most exciting finish of the day came in the under-15 boys’ race when Ethan Withnall from Burton AC was almost caught at the line by Yaried Alem from Leeds City AC, with both clocking the same time.
Madison Kindler from Brentwood Beagles AC took the under-13 girls’ race by 13 seconds from Ellie Blackhurst and Jessica Thake.
Sam Deery of Giffnock North AC also took victory as he finished just ahead of Rocco Hawley and Thomas Hastings in the under-13 boys race.
The under-11 races, meanwhile, were won by Alba Jones and Rowan Carson.
Other than the longer-course races, there were also the short-course relay trials, with Maddie Deadman and Josh Lay emerging as winners.
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