Monday 9 December 2019
The European Cross Country Championships held in Lisbon, Portugal was televised live Sunday morning, by BBC. As usual GB teams won a host of team medals across the main 6 races, winning 5 team titles, and men and womens Relay race.
In the Senior womens race Cardiff's Charlotte Arter was an excellent 7th with Jenny Nesbitt 29th. The women's team won the team race. Therefore, Charlotte and Jenny return with Gold medals.
The course was an extremely testing one on the side of a large hill overlooking Lisbon, watching it live, it looked like a Fell race, there was no course flat running, except, start and finishing straight.
Many runners particularly in senior women's dropped out, due to the tough course, many collaped on floor passing through the finish line. By comparism, the winers of races finished smiling, as did those who made podium places.
Those runners whose preparation for event, included attitude training in USA or Africa had an advantage. Although natural talent also plays a big part in winners of races. Jakob Ingebrigsen retained U20M tile as did Italy's Nadia Battocletti in U20W. Jimmey Gressier France retained his U23M tile, as did U23W Anna Moller of Denmark. Robel Fisha Sweden won SM race, and Cann Turkey won the SW race.
Gwent League 3
Meanwhile in Blaise Castle, Bristol, was another tough course, with a contant cold wind. Teams were depleted in many age groups Only younger age groups results are available.
Cardiff runners had two winners.
Kobe Beltran in U13B race.
Lloyd Sheppard in U17M race.
Both had stiff competition right up to finish line in winning their races. Cardiff teams lead in U15B, U17W, U20M and U20W. U13G are 2nd, U15W are 3rd, as are U17M.
We are well down in senior teams. Rebecca Evans led home our senior Ladies with a fine 8th place. James Thie led home men's team in 25th place. This fixture is affected by near Christmas, and other competitions on Road and Indoor competitions, held on same weekend.
Younger results can be found on www.gwent-league.org.uk
Official club photography supplied by Paul Stillman
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