Kate Axford, Tomer Tarragano and Innes FitzGerald are part of the GB team who will compete on December 8
The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team who will travel to Antalya, Turkey, next month (December 8) for the 2024 European Cross Country Championships has been announced.
Leading the entries are Kate Axford and Tomer Tarragano, who both triumphed in the senior trials at the Liverpool Cross Challenge.
Kate Axford and Tomer Tarragano take Euro trials victory in Liverpool
Coming off a strong performance and victory in Liverpool, Axford has shown the type of form she is in. Expected to be a strong contender in Turkey, she will be joined by Abbie Donnelly, the current European bronze medallist, who will be looking to improve on her third place from 12 months ago. Together, they will help defend the team gold Britain claimed in Brussels last year.
Abbie Donnelly (Getty)
In the senior men’s race, Tarragano will look to continue his rise after a breakthrough victory in Liverpool, where he defeated defending champion Hugo Milner and last year’s fourth-placer at the European Championships.
Tarragano and Milner will be supported by a strong squad, including under-23 silver medallist in 2022, Zak Mahamed, who did not run at trials but showed good form at the Cardiff Cross Challenge earlier this month.
Reigning European champions Innes FitzGerald and Will Barnicoat will both aim to defend their titles in the under-20 women’s and under-23 men’s races respectively.
Innes FitzGerald (Getty)
FitzGerald, coached by Gavin and Jo Pavey, secured both individual and team gold in Brussels last year and will look to replicated that success in Turkey.
Jess Bailey, another key member of the 2023 winning under-20 team, will also return to the championships, hoping to improve on her eighth place from last year.
Barnicoat faces a strong challenge from team-mate David Stone, who beat him at the trials in Liverpool.
The Euro Cross will only be Stone’s second 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.
Liverpool men’s leaders (Gary Mitchell)
The under-23 women’s team will be led by trials winner Meg Gadsby, while Henry Dover, who claimed his second consecutive title in Liverpool, will head the under-20 men’s team.
The mixed relay team will feature Josh Lay, who defended his title in Liverpool while Maddie Deadman surprised herself as she took the women’s victory. They will be joined by Elise Thorner and Tyler Bilyard.
Team leader, Sarah Benson, said: “The trials in Liverpool showcased the strength and depth of cross country running in the UK and we are delighted to have selected a team full of experienced athletes and a number of talented individuals who have reached a Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the first time.
“The championships are incredibly prestigious, and we have a great history in the event. It is important to recognise the significance of the event in the pathway for our endurance athletes in the UK, so I look forward to seeing the athletes step up and achieve their goals at the championships next month.”
Full team
Senior Women: Kate Axford; Abbie Donnelly; Izzy Fry; Jess Gibbon; Cari Hughes; Poppy Tank
Senior Men: Scott Beattie; Ellis Cross; Rory Leonard; Zak Mahamed; Hugo Milner; Tomer Tarragano
U23 Women: Phoebe Anderson; Poppy Craig-McFeely; Meg Gadsby; Mia Waldmann; Kate Willis; Tia Wilson
U23 Men: Will Barnicoat; Dafydd Jones; James Kingston; David Stone; Peter Molloy; Brett Rushman
U20 Women: Jessica Bailey; Innes Fitzgerald; Zoe Gilbody; Isobelle Jones; Eleanor Strevens; Lizzie Wellsted
U20 Men: Oliver Conway; George Couttie; Henry Dover; Quinn Miell-Ingram; William Rabjohns; Miles Waterworth
Senior Mixed Relay:Â Tyler Bilyard; Maddie Deadman; Joshua Lay; Elise Thorner
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