Cross country is a part of our sport’s tradition. The Cross Country Permit series is in GBR, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, some of the oldest and most inconic of European events. It would sure be fun to have this series expand into the U.S., but that is for another day. What I like is that the series is respecting some of the historic events of the sport.
Cross country is at its high point in North America, with 560,000 high schoolers, and 98,000 college athletes running their major races over the next four to six weeks.
Soufiane ElBaakali, photo by PhotoRun.net
The series of seven individual meetings in four different countries which make up the 2017/2018 IAAF Cross Country Permit series will kick off in ten days time with the Cross de Atapuerca on Sunday 12 November.
The Atapuerca race, held near the Spanish city of Burgos, has on many occasions been the curtain raiser for the series in recent years. The event regularly features the world’s top cross-country stars; at this year’s edition Bahrain’s Aweke Ayalew and Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi will be in action as they return to defend their titles.
During the course of the three months after Atapuerca, many of the world’s finest distance runners will take part in the series before its conclusion at the Almond Blossom meeting in Albufeira, Portugal, on 18 February.
Some of the standout performers on last year’s circuit included Irene Cheptai, who won in Albufeira seven weeks before leading Kenya to their historic top-six sweep at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Kampala 2017.
Just two days after celebrating his 17th birthday, Ethiopia’s rising star Selemon Barega upstaged a solid field to notch an upset victory at the Cinque Mulini in San Vittore Olona, Italy, setting the stage for his thrilling 3000m victory at the World U18 Championships in Nairobi.
And the winners at the 60th edition of the Campaccio-International Cross Country in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy, Ethiopian Muktar Edris and Hellen Obiri of Kenya, would go on to claim the 5000m titles at the World Championships in London.
The series includes some of the most venerable athletics events in the world. The Campaccio will be held for the 61st time, while the Cinque Mulini will celebrate its 86th edition.
As always, the Cross Country Permit section of the IAAF website will provide in-depth coverage of all the action, including previews, reports and results.
06 Jan – Antrim, GBR
06 Jan – San Giorgio su Legnano, ITA
14 Jan – Elgoibar, ESP
21 Jan – Sevilla, ESP
11 Feb – San Vittore Olona, ITA
18 Feb – Albufeira, POR
IAAF
