by Alfonz Juck
2016 European U 23 Men, photo by PhotoRun.netSAMORIN (SVK): Former two-time winner Fionnuala McCormack was disappointed to finish 12th in the senior women’s race at the European Cross Country Championships but the Irishwoman believes she can still claim another title, informs the Irish Independent. “It’s of significance to me this time because up until now I was the only one who had won back-to-backs. I dreamt I’d challenge her for the title and I knew it was going to be tough, but I honestly believe I did my best on the build-up. Maybe I’ll try to stop her [Can] doing three in a row,” she said. Can became just the second athlete in championship history to claim back-to-back titles in the senior women’s race.
SAMORIN (SVK): After winning the senior men’s race in Samorin, Turkey’s Kaan Kigen Ozbilen has set his sights on the Boston Marathon in April. “Anyway it was a tough competition – the cold made the run much harder. I loved the course, it was very special and I even did not mind about the frozen water jumps as they were not too wide. Now I will be preparing for a marathon in Boston,” he said in a flash interview.
SAMORIN (SVK): After winning silver in the senior men’s race, Adel Mechaal will race next weekend at the Cross Nacional Fiestas de la Virgen in Yecla.
SAMORIN (SVK): Hungary won first individual silver in history of Eurocross by Toth in the U20 race. Knowles-Jones won gold thus completing medal set; she won bronze in 2016 and silver in 2015; previously Gorecka, Purdue, Terzic and Bobocel have won complete set of medals. Ingebrigtsen became 4th runner (after Crippa, Y Rybakov and Bene) to successfully defend the U20 men’s race in Euro Cross. First individual gold for Germany by Reh in U23 Women’s race in Euro Cross. For the third time in history (after 2009, 2010) France won gold and silver in U23 men’s race at Euro Cross. The winning margin of 15 sec tied the maximum winning margin in the women senior race from 1995; however, note that course was much shorter in 1995. For the second time in history of Euro Cross, Turkey won both senior men’s individual as well as team title. By Ken Nakamura.
SAMORIN (SVK): Next organisers in Tilburg, Netherlands presented their plans at a press conference here. The course will be run through a safari park. The date for the 25th edition of the event is December 9 under the motto Creating Crossovers.
