Kate Axford, Tomer Tarragano and Innes Fitzgerald are part of the GB team that will compete on December 8.
The team of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which will go to Antalya, Turkey next month (December 8) to participate in the 2024 European Championship, has been announced.
Leading the charge are Kate Axford and Tomer Tarragano, who both won the senior trials at the Liverpool Cross Challenge.
Kate Axford and Tomer Tarragano scored a Euro trial win for Liverpool
After a strong performance in Liverpool, Oxford showed what form he is in. He will be joined by current European bronze medalist Abby Donnelly, who finished third 12 months ago to defend the gold Britain claimed in Brussels last year.
Abby Donnelly (Getty)
In the senior men’s race, Tarragano will be looking to continue his rise after a breakthrough victory in Liverpool, where he beat reigning champion Hugo Milner and last year’s fourth place at the European Championships.
Tarragano and Milner will be supported by a strong squad, including 2022 Under-23 silver medalist Zak Mahamed, who did not take part in the trials but showed good form at the Cardiff Cross Challenge earlier this month.
Reigning European champions Innes Fitzgerald and Will Barnicoat will both be aiming to defend their titles in the women’s under-20 and men’s under-23 races respectively.
Innes Fitzgerald (Getty)
Fitzgerald, coached by Gavin and Joe Pavey, secured both individual and team gold in Brussels last year and will be looking to repeat that success in Turkey.
Jess Bailey, another key member of the 2023-winning Under-20 side, will also return to the Championship, hoping to improve on her eighth-place finish from last year.
Barnicoat faces a strong challenge from team-mate David Stone, who beat him in the Liverpool trials.
The Euro Cross will be only Stone’s second competition of the year, having missed last year’s trials due to an injury that required two operations. His last full season was in 2019.
Liverpool Men’s Leaders (Gary Mitchell)
The women’s under-23 team will be captained by trial winner Meg Gadsby, while Henry Dover, who won his second consecutive title at Liverpool, will lead the men’s under-20 side.
The medley relay team will feature Josh Leigh, who defended his title in Liverpool, while Maddie Didman surprised herself by taking the women’s victory, joined by Elise Turner and Tyler Billiard.
Team leader Sarah Benson said: “The trials in Liverpool showed 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 made it to the UK and Northern Ireland team for the first time.
“The championships are incredibly prestigious and we have a great history at the events. It’s important to recognize the importance of the event to our endurance athletes in the UK, so I’m looking forward to seeing the athletes next month and achieving their goals at the championships.”
Complete team
Senior women. Kate Axford; Abby Donnelly; Izzy Fry; Jess Gibbon; Kari Hughes; Poppy Tank:
Senior men. Scott Beattie; Alice Cross; Rory Leonard; Zak Mohamed; Hugo Milner; Tomer Tarragano
U23 women. Phoebe Anderson; Poppy Craig-McFeely; Meg Gadsby; Mia Waldman; Kate Willis; Tia Wilson
U23 But. Will Barnicoat; Dafydd Jones; James Kingston; David Stone; Peter Molloy; Brett Rushman
U20 women. Jessica Bailey; Innes Fitzgerald; Zoe Guilbody; Isobel Jones; Eleanor Strevens; Lizzie Wellstead
U20 Men. Oliver Conway; George Coote; Henry Dover; Quinn Miele-Ingram; William Rabjohns; Miles Waterworth
Senior mixed relay. Tyler Billiard; Maddie Deadman; Joshua Leigh; Elise Turner
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