European junior cross country champion Charlotte Purdue (coach: Mick Woods) – the youngest winner of the UK senior World Cross Trial in 20 years – will lead a 24-strong Aviva GB&NI team for the 39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain on Sunday 20 March 2011.
Gunn in UKA Team for World Cross
The 19-year-old UK junior 10,000m record holder, who dominated the McCain UK Cross Challenge Final, is joined by her Aldershot, Farnham and District team mate Emelia Gorecka (coach: Mick Woods), who heads up the junior women’s team after a fifth consecutive McCain UK Cross Challenge victory in Birmingham.Gorecka – still only 17 – is the reigning European junior bronze medallist and finished 23rd on her international debut at the World Cross 12 months ago. Unbeaten domestically this year, the track specialist is on course for a top 20 finish on the flat, fast terrain expected in Spain.
Jonny Hay (coach: Mick Woods) – Aviva GB&NI junior team gold medallist in the 2010 European Cross Country Championships – and Andy Vernon (coach: Nick Anderson), completed an Aldershot clean sweep in Saturday’s Trials and head up the men’s teams.
Hay will make his final appearance in the global showpiece as an under-20 and has realistic expectations of a top-30 finish, while Vernon, who will earn his fourth successive World Cross senior vest, is targeting a continuation of his year-on-year progress in the event.
“The World Cross moves to a biennial fixture from 2011 and we were really keen to capitalise on the continued forward momentum of UK endurance running by selecting full teams on this occasion,” said Ian Stewart, Aviva GB&NI Team Leader; “although we knew we’d be without a few of our strongest athletes, particularly in the senior races, we felt it was appropriate – and justified – to do so.”
AVIVA GB & NI TEAM
SENIOR MEN
Luke Gunn (Bud Baldaro) – Derby; Derek Hawkins (Lawrie Spence) – Kilbarchan AC; Tom Humphries (Phil Clamp) – Cannock & Staffs AC; Ryan McLeod (John Nuttall) – Tipton Harriers; Andy Vernon (Nick Anderson) – Aldershot, Farnham & District; James Walsh (Mike Baxter) – Leeds City
SENIOR WOMEN
Julia Bleasdale (self-coached) – Hillingdon; Hatti Dean (Bud Baldaro] – Hallamshire Harriers; Charlotte Purdue (Mick Woods) – AFD; Gemma Steel (Roy Stowell) – Charnwood AC; Stevie Stockton (George Gandy) – Vale Royal; Naomi Taschimowitz (Charlotte Fisher) – Taunton
JUNIOR MEN
Ian Bailey (Mick Woods) – AFD; Ben Connor (Jerry Hall) – Derby AC; Tom Curr (Chris Frapwell) – Stroud; Richard Goodman (Geoff Williams) – Shaftesbury Barnet; Jonny Hay (Mick Woods) – AFD; Ross Matheson (Dave Campbell) – Lasswade
JUNIOR WOMEN
Beth Carter (Mick Woods) – AFD; Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods) – AFD; Annabel Gummow (Chris Wooldridge) – Bristol & West; Ruth Haynes (Mick Woods) – AFD; Georgia Peel (Mick Woods) – AFD; Louise Small (Mick Woods) – AFD
