Athletes representing England made the trip to Elgoibar in Spain for the Annual Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza. This classy event attracted athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Bahrain, Eritrea, Chile, Rumania, Poland and of course Spain and England. First in action were the Junior Women who dominated the race filling the first 4 places in the 37 runner field. Amelia Quirk scored the win in 15.36 while Victoria Weir placed 2nd in 15.52 with Kate Waugh 3rd with a time of 16.05 and Sarah Chapman was 4th 16.31 All 4 of these athletes looked strong and should figure in the Championships to come.

In their race the Junior Men faced 34 other athletes and competed against some strong Spanish runners with Abdessamad Oukhelfen of Catalunya winning in 20.18. Sam Stevens put in a good challenge early on but had to settle for 2nd with 20.26 while Scott Beattie was 14 secs back in 3rd, then came Tom Mortimer 4th with 20.41, 1 sec down on Scott and Luke Prior finished 8th in 21.31. Sam Stevens has been consistently good this Winter but the Team as a whole would have learnt from the experience.

The Senior Women’s was a top class race with Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia the clear winner in 25.10. Next came Ruth Jebet the Kenyan athlete now running for Bahrain, her time 25.21 while Trihas Gebre Aunoon of Bilbao was 3rd in 26.00.

Running for her Local Club where she now lives Jess Andrews of AA Palamos placed 5th, 13 seconds back and Kate Maltby finished first of the English Athletes, 6th with a time of 26.25. Next was Lauren Deadman 7th in 26.28 and Rachel Felton was 2 secs behind her in 8th. to complete the English quartet Lauren Howarth was 12th with 27.06.

Africans dominated the Senior Men’s race with Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda 1st in a time of 31.50, Aweke Ayalew of Bahrain, 2nd in 32.16 and Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya 3rd 32.2. Top English Athlete was Ross Millington who led briefly early on finished 10th in 33.04 while Patrick Dever was 21st in 34.07 and Jake Shelley was 28th in 35.27.