Elgoibar cross country team announcement

The prestigious Elgoibar international cross country competition in Spain will take place on Sunday 18 January 2026, with the local football ground serving as the event venue. England are sending senior and U20 men's and women's teams.

Elgoibar, located in the Basque region of northern Spain, is renowned for its ‘Juan Muguerza’ event. Named after the celebrated local athlete Juan Muguerza, a multiple national champion, the race began in 1943 as a contest for national-level runners. Over the years, this event has attracted a strong field of African and leading European athletes, with many participants having achieved success at the European or World Cross Country Championships.

Senior team

• Oscar Bell (Herts Phoenix / Ware Joggers, Andy Hobdell)
• Jenson Connell (Leeds City / Leeds Beckett University, Andy Henderson)
• Edward Buck (Newark AC)
• Jack Millar (Bristol & West / Thames Hare & Hounds, David Bedwell)
• Charlotte Dannatt (Camberley/Loughborough Students, Kyle Bennett)
• Megan Harris (Chelmsford/Loughborough Students, Hayley Hemmings)
• Lucy Jones (Herne Hill, Geoff Jerwood)
• Mia Waldmann (Reading AC/St Mary’s Uni, Mark Booth)

U20 team

• Ewan Busfield (Derby AC, Jethro McGraw)
• Jacob Hurrell (Chelmsford AC, Richard Nation)
• Rory Barclay-Watt (Exeter Harriers)
• Myles Fraser (Blackburn, Andy Bibby)
• Sophie Jacobs (St Albans AC)
• Ava James (Brighton & Hove AC, John Clements/Jason Jeffery)
• Isla McGowan (Banbury, Ros Kelling)
• Katie Pye (Aldershot Farnham & District, Mick Woods)

Our 16 athletes will be supported by experienced Team Managers Eamonn Martin (senior men), Sue Lamb (senior women), Keith Holt (U20 men) and Jo Newcombe (U20 women).

Team Manager Eamonn Martin said:

"Our senior and junior men’s and women’s teams have participated in Elgoibar for many years and have always received a warm welcome. The competition is a very high standard, and while our junior teams have enjoyed notable successes in recent years, the senior categories have proven especially challenging. Nevertheless, the experience gained from competing at this level has been invaluable for our athletes, often representing the toughest race they have faced outside of the European or World Cross Country Championships."

Senior team

Oscar Bell was 11th in both Cardiff and the Liverpool Cross Challenge - incorporating the European Trial - in November, having also run well for his club in the National Cross Country Relays in Mansfield. He was 8th in the Home Countries International last February and has run sub 29 minutes 10k races on the road this year.

Jenson Connell was 5th at the U23 Liverpool event and then went on to finish 36th in the European U23 Cross Country in Lagoa, Portugal in December. He ran strong legs for his club in both the National Cross County Relays at Mansfield and the National Road Relays.

Ed Buck was 13th in Liverpool which was probably his best cross country race to date - although he was also 9th at Cardiff. He has been running well on the roads and was 9th in the Great North Run and was 7th at the Telford 10k with a time of 29 minutes. This will be his England Cross Country debut.

Jack Millar is a seasoned cross country runner and was 12th at Liverpool and 3rd in the Home Countries International last February, 5th in the Inter Counties in March, plus ran solid legs for his club in the Midland and National Road Relays in October.

Charlotte Dannatt finished 15th in Liverpool after a positive 9th place in Cardiff Cross Challenge event and an early season race for England in Roeselare (Belgium) where she took 4th. Charlotte continues to improve on her impressive summer season and recently ran well in Battersea Park 5k finishing first in 15:37.

Megan Harris has had an excellent start to her cross country season finishing 1st U23 in Liverpool gaining her selection in the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal where she finished a credible 19th place. Megan started her cross country season finishing 10th in Cardiff and 2nd on the first leg of the ECCA National Cross Country Relays. This was all off a great summer season where she ran PBs in 800m, 1500m and 5000m on the track.

Lucy Jones (pictured top at Hannut last year) had an excellent summer gaining PBs in 800m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m on the track and 5k, Half Marathon and Marathon on the road. Lucy finished 9th in Liverpool and started her season running well in the ECCA National Cross Country Relays bringing her team through to 2nd place.

Mia Waldmann finished 3rd U23 in Liverpool gaining her selection for the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal where she finished 30th. Mia started her cross country season finishing 13th in Cardiff after a positive summer gaining PBs in 3000m and 5000m, and 5k on the road.

U20 team

Ewan Busfield has made an excellent start to the winter season with a very credible 7th place in Liverpool making him the first eligible athlete for selection for Elgoibar (World Cross Athletes excluded). Ewan is on an upward trajectory building on his 6th place finish in last season’s Inter-Counties in Wollaton Park.

Jacob Hurrell has also made a great start to this season; he was the second eligible athlete for selection for Elgoibar. Jacob has been improving steadily since his 14th place finish in last season’s ECCA Saucony English National Championships at Parliament Hill.

Rory Barclay-Watt took 14th place in Liverpool and had an excellent 2nd place finish in last season’s ECCA Saucony English National Championships at Parliament Hill and was first in the SIAB Schools International in Falkirk.

Myles Fraser had a solid cross country season in 2024/2025 with 2nd places in both the Lancashire County Championships and Lancashire Schools' Championships. Myles really came to notice in the Home Countries international where he finished a close third and was given the same time as the 2nd placed athlete. He has started this winter well with a very solid run in Roeselare.

Sophie Jacobs gains her first England cross country vest following her 12th overall position at Liverpool. Earlier in November 2025, Sophie finished 6th in the Cardiff Cross Country Challenge. Following solid performances on the track last summer, Sophie is making steps in the right direction and should be boosted by her England call up for Elgoibar.

Ava James is another athlete who is making her England cross country debut following her 9th overall position at Liverpool. In November, Ava finished 9th in the Cardiff Cross Country Challenge. In 2024 Ava represented GB&NI at the European U18 Championship finishing 7th in the 2000m steeplechase.

Isla McGowan finished 13th in the Liverpool and 8th in the Cardiff Cross Country Challenges. Last summer Isla finished 4th in the final of the 3000m at the European U20 Championships, Tampere, Finland in a PB time of 9:14.56.

Katie Pye finished 11th at Liverpool and clocked the fasted leg in the U20 race at the National Cross Country Relays. Last October Katie ran for England in Roeselare finishing 4th and in the preceding few months Katie displayed excellent form on the track at 1500, 3000 and 5000m, and represented GB&NI at the European U20 Championships at 5000m.

We wish all our athletes the best for their experience in Spain!