European XC Championships, Hyeres, France, 13th December

Myles Splitz · 25-11-2015 12:45pm #1

menoscemo · 25-11-2015 12:55pm

I think the women's team is stronger than previous years; surely they will have a good chance of a team medal?

Myles Splitz · 25-11-2015 1:08pm

Chivito550 · 25-11-2015 1:08pm

Is there a reason why we don't have a full team for Women's U23?

shels4ever · 25-11-2015 1:15pm

Should be good this year,The womens team is strong could push for a medal. Think team GB will be strong with France and Spain also so a bronze would be a good result.

Myles Splitz · 25-11-2015 1:22pm

Chivito550 wrote: »

Is there a reason why we don't have a full team for Women's U23?

Probably a decision based off results from last year to go back to the old approach as last year was a break from the norm with regard sending a team in this category.
We finished bottom by a single point however this year you have two of that team (from what I can see) have been very quite all year, another who is now in the Senior ranks and the possibility of NCAA athletes opting out due to college commitments.

(Not saying it's right simply speculating)

Myles Splitz · 25-11-2015 1:24pm

menoscemo wrote: »

I think the women's team is stronger than previous years; surely they will have a good chance of a team medal?

I have to agree with you however I think they have to be as I don't think Fionnuala will be as high up the field as in previous years so the rest of the team will have to offset the difference.

shels4ever wrote: »

Should be good this year,The womens team is strong could push for a medal. Think team GB will be strong with France and Spain also so a bronze would be a good result.

There is the potential for them to dominate this race as they were top 2 last year, add in Laura Muir (5th in the Beijing this year) Rhona Auckland (won u23's in Europeans last year and was 15th in World Cross Senior Race in March) and the likes of Steph Twell it would be very hard to see past them.

dna_leri · 25-11-2015 1:32pm

I don't know much about the European standard in XC.
What are the medal hopes in this team this year?
Does Fionnuala have a chance if she hits form?
What's the competition like for Kevin Mulcaire?
I suppose Womens senior is most likely for a team medal, are France and UK the challengers?

Myles Splitz · 25-11-2015 1:42pm

dna_leri wrote: »

What's the competition like for Kevin Mulcaire?

Last years winner is still eligible for this. He followed up his win with a 20th place finish in World Cross Junior Race. He also actually has a faster 5k PB than Mulcaire (13.58)

Not sure of who else will feature as startlists not yet available with many countries holding their trials this weekend.

dna_leri wrote: »

What are the medal hopes in this team this year?

Senior Women probably the only shot

dna_leri wrote: »

Does Fionnuala have a chance if she hits form?

Would love to see her up in the mix but IMO I reckon a top 10 performance will be a good run on the day. Her build up was short by her own admission due to her marathon training

dna_leri wrote: »

I suppose Womens senior is most likely for a team medal, are France and UK the challengers?

As mentioned above for me hard to see beyond GB, with us, France and Spain once again most likely battling out for the minor medals with possibly Poland being a dark horse depending on what team the field.

Chivito550 · 25-11-2015 2:04pm

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Last years winner is still eligible for this. He followed up his win with a 20th place finish in World Cross Junior Race. He also actually has a faster 5k PB than Mulcaire (13.58)

Not sure of who else will feature as startlists not yet available with many countries holding their trials this weekend.

Senior Women probably the only shot

Would love to see her up in the mix but IMO I reckon a top 10 performance will be a good run on the day. Her build up was short by her own admission due to her marathon training

As mentioned above for me hard to see beyond GB, with US, France and Spain once again most likely battling out for the minor medals with possibly Poland being a dark horse depending on what team the field.

U.S. allowed into Euros now?

Myles Splitz · 25-11-2015 2:10pm

Chivito550 wrote: »

U.S. allowed into Euros now?

Caps error

Having said that last year Kenya won the gold and silver Senior Mens, Ethiopian bronze in Senior Men, Gold in the Junior Men and Bronze in Senior Women's so might as well let the yanks in

shels4ever · 25-11-2015 2:46pm

dna_leri wrote: »

What's the competition like for Kevin Mulcaire?

He should be there or there abouts on the day, Think he could pick up a medal all going very well.

youngrun · 26-11-2015 8:49am

Has Hope Saunders a chance of top ten ? Going very well. Mulcaire even higher?
Teams are solid, could the Irish men spring a surprise here with a bronze? Think Pollock and Sweeney will only improve from trials.

Myles Splitz · 26-11-2015 3:25pm

Myles Splitz wrote: »

There is the potential for them to dominate this race as they were top 2 last year, add in Laura Muir (5th in the Beijing this year) Rhona Auckland (won u23's in Europeans last year and was 15th in World Cross Senior Race in March) and the likes of Steph Twell it would be very hard to see past them.

Looks like she is down for the u23 race in the UK Trials at the weekend.

Interestingly enough the u23's race looks stacked to the point where she may not walk away with it all that handy. Other runners involved

Emilia Gorecka (2 time Junior European XC Champion (3 time medalist with a Silver in between wins)

Jessica Judd (European Junior XC Silver medalists and World Junior 800m Silver medalist behind Ajee Wilson (future Senior World 6th place finisher)

Myles Splitz · 26-11-2015 3:29pm

youngrun wrote: »

Has Hope Saunders a chance of top ten ? Going very well. Mulcaire even higher?
Teams are solid, could the Irish men spring a surprise here with a bronze? Think Pollock and Sweeney will only improve from trials.

Hard to judge Mulcaire's performance at weekend as he didn't look to have gotten out of second gear to be honest.

If on form could well be up in the top 5 IMO,

Regarding Hope it will be hard to call as I haven't seen who is in the field although you can be sure that UK/Mick Woods will have some pretty strong up an comers given their history in this event with Twell, Purdue, Gorecka just to name a few who have excelled at Junior level in this event

pconn062 · 26-11-2015 3:39pm

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Hard to judge Mulcaire's performance at weekend as he didn't look to have gotten out of second gear to be honest.

If on form could well be up in the top 5 IMO,

Regarding Hope it will be hard to call as I haven't seen who is in the field although you can be sure that UK/Mick Woods will have some pretty strong up an comers given their history in this event with Twell, Purdue, Gorecka just to name a few who have excelled at Junior level in this event

Thought the same about Mulcaire myself, didn't look bad and had an extra gear when he needed it but broke away from the field incredibly easily and then just ran steady to the finish. The dude is a 14 flat runner, he is miles ahead of anyone else in that age range in Ireland.

Myles Splitz · 26-11-2015 4:09pm

Men's Senior (one spot left)

Morhad Amdouni, Timothee Bommier, Florian Carvalho, Simon Denissel, Yohan Durand

Women's Senior

Christine Bardelle, Clemence Calvin, Christelle Daunay, Sophie Duarte, Aurore Guerin, Liv Westphal

Men's Under-23s

Francois Barrer, Djilali Bedrani, Felix Bour, Alexis Miellet, Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse, Alexandre Saddedine

Women's Under-23s

Marie Bouchard, Maeva Danois, Jacqueline Gandar, Johanna Geyer Carles, Cecile Jarousseau, Emma Oudiou

Junior Men

Mohamed-amine El Bouajaji, Jimmy Gressier, Maxime Hueber Moosbrugger, Baptiste Mischler, Fabien Palcau, Nicolas Witz

Junior Women

Cassandre Beaugrand, Elise Decorte, Cecile Lejeune, Alexa Lemitre, Lucie Picard, Elsa Racasan

French team announced. As expected the women's team looks pretty strong (albeit an aging team with 1st 3 runners +33)

To give a bit of context.

Christine Bardelle - 2 top 5 performances in this event over the past 7 years.

Sophie Duarte - 2013 Champion and 5th place in the 2007 World Championship 3000m Steeplechase

Christelle Daunay 2014 European marathon Champion. Has failed to light up the roads this year but still a strong competitor

Clemence Calvin - European 10,000m Silver medalist last year

Aurore Guerin 58th in World Cross this year (9th European)

Liv Westphal 8th in NCAA 5000m final last year with a good track record. Youngest on the team at 21 but a good bit of US collegiate Cross Country Experience

youngrun · 27-11-2015 8:34am

No Russians competing I take it. Will the Turks be allowed compete given the events of recent days if sanctions are imposed on them, they probably will...
Politics in sport ...

Carvalho of France probably the best bet of a European born mens medallist ?

Are the UK trials on this weekend

Myles Splitz · 27-11-2015 8:58am

youngrun wrote: »

No Russians competing I take it. Will the Turks be allowed compete given the events of recent days if sanctions are imposed on them, they probably will...
Politics in sport ...

Carvalho of France probably the best bet of a European born mens medallist ?

Are the UK trials on this weekend

Russia won't be there however they rarely send teams to these championships.

Turks will be there. As it stands they only recommendation from the independent investigation was systematic doping in Russia. The second part of the report has been pushed back till January now so at earliest this is when IAAF will take course of action on other nations (if any)

UK Trails are being held in conjuction with second round of the GB Cross Country Challenge in Liverpool with the team announced Monday.

I think Carvalho will struggle personally speaking. He has gone off the boil somewhat since last year (not sure has he been struggling for injury)

Myles Splitz · 28-11-2015 7:13pm

Sifar Hassan announced for the Dutch team. She has to be one of the favourites for this especially if the course ends up anything like it was a few weeks back (glorious sunshine) for the EAA Permit cross country race.

While her track credentials speak for themselves (3rd in 1500m World Championships this year and a sub 4 1500m runner) it should be noted that she is also u23 Champion here from 2 years ago.

youngrun · 29-11-2015 2:59pm

UK trials saw familiar winners, http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2015-news-page/november-2015/28-11-15-liverpool-cc-report/

Myles Splitz · 30-11-2015 4:56pm

Few notable performances over the weekend.

Optimistically Fionnuala was 2nd in the Cross di Soria behind Linet Masai. She was 35 seconds ahead of the next European (Spaniard who was 13th in Euro Cross last year)

The gap would seem to indicate that F is in atleast as good a shape as last year which bodes well for the team overall in terms of challenging for the minor medals ahead of France of Spain.

Clemence of France had a solid run in Leffrinckoucke as 1st European in 5th.

Form would seem to indicate that in she will probably be top scorer for France this year as she seems to have come through well. The old guard will have to have very good runs in order to challenge for a medal.

GB's 1st four at trials were guaranteed selection meaning that you will have Steele, Avery, Twell and Howarth with more than likely Auckland and one of the other New Mexico based collegiate runners making up team who could invariable win the team title excluding there top runner unless something goes dramatically wrong as they most likely will improve on their 19 point tally from last year and could have 4 in the top 10.

Notwork Error · 01-12-2015 8:54am

Myles Splitz wrote: »

GB's 1st four at trials were guaranteed selection meaning that you will have Steele, Avery, Twell and Howarth with more than likely Auckland and one of the other New Mexico based collegiate runners making up team who could invariable win the team title excluding there top runner unless something goes dramatically wrong as they most likely will improve on their 19 point tally from last year and could have 4 in the top 10.

I was just looking up Steele's progression there and it's insane, I knew she came out of nowhere in World class terms but had no idea how far from nowhere. She was running 42 minute 10k's and 86 minute halfs at 21 to running 31:26 and 68:13 on the road last year and battling it out regularly with the world's best on grass, incredible.

http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=25777

Krusty_Clown · 01-12-2015 11:59am

Notwork Error wrote: »

I was just looking up Steele's progression there and it's insane, I knew she came out of nowhere in World class terms but had no idea how far from nowhere. She was running 42 minute 10k's and 86 minute halfs at 21 to running 31:26 and 68:13 on the road last year and battling it out regularly with the world's best on grass, incredible.

http://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=25777

She hasn't suddenly come out of nowhere (lest that be anybody's interpretation (cos we all know what that implies! (I don't think you were inferring that point NE))). She's had a very gradual but continuous improvement over 10k since 2006.

Year: Worst/Best
2006: 41:36/39:26
2007: 40:12/38:20
2008: 39:07/35:25
2009: 36:36/34:34
2010: 35:34/33:16
2011: 33:47/32:48
2012: 33:42/32:06
2013: 33:49/31:36
2014: 33:19/31:27
2015: 34:43/31:55

A progression we should all be trying to emulate!

Itziger · 01-12-2015 12:54pm

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

She hasn't suddenly come out of nowhere (lest that be anybody's interpretation (cos we all know what that implies! (I don't think you were inferring that point NE))). She's had a very gradual but continuous improvement over 10k since 2006.

Year: Worst/Best
2006: 41:36/39:26
2007: 40:12/38:20
2008: 39:07/35:25
2009: 36:36/34:34
2010: 35:34/33:16
2011: 33:47/32:48
2012: 33:42/32:06
2013: 33:49/31:36
2014: 33:19/31:27
2015: 34:43/31:55

A progression we should all be trying to emulate!

07 to 08 is fairly impressive mind. 2.55 minutes.

Notwork Error · 01-12-2015 12:57pm

Yeah, wasn't implying that at all. Meant it as an undiscovered talent who got stuck into it later in life relatively speaking and made some great gains since.

Myles Splitz · 01-12-2015 3:15pm

Full teams announced and Auckland has opted out.

http://www.athleticsweekly.com/featured/gemma-steel-ross-millington-lead-gb-euro-cross-team-36601/

tang1 · 01-12-2015 3:42pm

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Full teams announced and Auckland has opted out.

http://www.athleticsweekly.com/featured/gemma-steel-ross-millington-lead-gb-euro-cross-team-36601/

Shame Auckland opted out, would have been a good race with her & Muir.

Myles Splitz · 01-12-2015 3:47pm

tang1 wrote: »

Shame Auckland opted out, would have been a good race with her & Muir.

Think Hyeres will suit the runners with a bit more wheels (Steele and Muir) over the strength based runners (Avery and Auckland) if conditions hold up judging by the race there a few weeks ago.

Myles Splitz · 03-12-2015 3:16pm

Spanish teams released

Mens team looks like it will be one of the favourites overall.

The women's teams has some very strong individuals but ultimately I think they are a little shy on depth and definitely beatable by our ladies.

Also two big names left off team sheets for the women's race with Bahta and Belete (3rd and 4th in last years race) left off start lists due to illness/injury.

Caprica · 06-12-2015 1:33pm

What's the story with the Irish Senior Women's team? From looking at the final entries they have entered 8 ladies, the top 6 from Nationals and also Mary Cullen and Laura Crowe. It would be great to see Cullen back representing Ireland, since she didn't show at Nationals I assumed she was injured.

http://www.european-athletics.org/mm/Document/EventsMeetings/General/01/27/80/74/EXCH2015-FinalEntriesAthleteListByEvent-forwebsite_Neutral.pdf

Interesting to see that Sandell from Finland is back racing at 38, she won the Senior title back in 1995. Sadly no Sergiy Lebed, it won't be the same without him. Ingebrittsen from Norway is also entered, slightly over distance for him.

shels4ever · 06-12-2015 5:29pm

Caprica wrote: »

What's the story with the Irish Senior Women's team? From looking at the final entries they have entered 8 ladies, the top 6 from Nationals and also Mary Cullen and Laura Crowe. It would be great to see Cullen back representing Ireland, since she didn't show at Nationals I assumed she was injured.

http://www.european-athletics.org/mm/Document/EventsMeetings/General/01/27/80/74/EXCH2015-FinalEntriesAthleteListByEvent-forwebsite_Neutral.pdf

Interesting to see that Sandell from Finland is back racing at 38, she won the Senior title back in 1995. Sadly no Sergiy Lebed, it won't be the same without him. Ingebrittsen from Norway is also entered, slightly over distance for him.

Same with the men team I expect two reserves named. It's just a team of 6 with 4 to score.

menoscemo · 08-12-2015 5:48pm

Nice piece here on Caroline Crowley, she has had a pretty hard time of it it seems but she has come a long way this year.
http://lindienaughton.com/interview-caroline-crowley-of-crusaders/

Myles Splitz · 12-12-2015 2:14pm

Some interesting stats on the competition here

http://trackandfieldnews.com/images/stories/tfn_pdfs/2015_euro_xc_champs_stats.pdf

RacoonQueen · 13-12-2015 10:10am

What time are the senior races on at folks?

pconn062 · 13-12-2015 10:59am

Jack O'Leary 1st Irish in junior boys race in 23rd, ahead of Mulcaire. 8th team. Missed the Junior girls race.

overpronator · 13-12-2015 11:12am

Is this on TV anywhere?

Notwork Error · 13-12-2015 11:15am

overpronator wrote: »

Is this on TV anywhere?

BBC red button now and RTE at 11:45

RacoonQueen · 13-12-2015 11:22am

overpronator wrote: »

Is this on TV anywhere?

Live on European Athletics website also

rom · 13-12-2015 12:01pm

RTE comentary is dreadful as usual. Mulcaire, Mulcaire, Mulcaire, Tracy, Mulcaire, Mulcaire , Mulcaire, Tracy record. Did I mention Mulcaire. Do a little bit of research.

Caprica · 13-12-2015 12:19pm

The U23 Men's race was entertaining. Once the Italian decided to take it on there was only going to be one winner but it was a good race for the rest of the podium with a lot of athletes in contention. The French packed well to pip the Italians for team gold. Bit disappointing for Kevin Mulcaire, he was in contention early on but faded in the second half, Jerry and Catherina are calling it a mental issue for him. Good run by O'Leary to be the first Irish lad home.

Itziger · 13-12-2015 12:35pm

Conservative start from FB. Also from the Brits. Be nice if LL and FB could work together.

Just remembered it was on as the Senior Women were about to start.

Caprica · 13-12-2015 12:45pm

Hasan on her own in the lead. McCormack at the tail end of the leading pack, with LL just outside the top ten. Ireland in 4th in the team competition, just behind Spain.

rom · 13-12-2015 12:47pm

Ireland up to 3rd

rom · 13-12-2015 12:49pm

FB moving up.

Itziger · 13-12-2015 12:49pm

Leader tiring? Big gap though. Our women 3rd?

wgtomblin · 13-12-2015 12:51pm

First time I ever saw someone taking a gel in XC race (Gemma Steel). Any drinks tables on the course?!

rom · 13-12-2015 12:55pm

She might medal

Caprica · 13-12-2015 12:55pm

Fionnuala finishing strong, in 4th chasing 3rd

overpronator · 13-12-2015 1:01pm

Team bronze. Well done all!

Caprica · 13-12-2015 1:02pm

Great performance by the Irish ladies to finish in 3rd. FB 4th, LL 13th, CC 23rd & CD 43rd. Only 5 points behind France, who didn't perform as well as I expected. Team GB won easily.

Fionnuala can take a lot of positives from this performance, one of her best runs in a while, a conservative start worked her way through the pack and finished strong. Another good run from Lizzie.

Hasan won it from the front. I thought at the start of the last lap she was being caught as Twell and Avery were charging but she held firm to pull away again. Grovdal has been round for years, good to see her get a medal.

European XC Championships, Hyeres, France, 13th December

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