England team selected for Juan Muguerza Elgoibar Cross Country
We are pleased to announce a team of 16 athletes selected to represent England at the Juan Muguerza Cross Country in Elgoibar, Spain this weekend.
Into its 61st year, the Basque region town of Elgoibar has been welcoming international athletes since 1963, with England representing for many years against a strong field of athletes from across the world.
This year there will be England teams in both the junior and senior races.
Senior men
Alfie Manthorpe (Sheffield & Dearne, John Wood) – Alfie will be making his England cross country debut in Spain this weekend after representing GB at the recent European Cross Country in Brussels. He had a fantastic outdoor season last year, setting PBs across the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m on the track.
Jeremy Dempsey (Shaftesbury Barnet, Phillip O’Dell) – selected as reserve for the European Cross Country Championships, Jeremy is in excellent shape having recently finished 13th at the Liverpool Cross Challenge in November. This will be Dempsey’s England debut as he looks to qualify for the World University Championships held next month.
Tomer Tarragano (Brighton & Hove, Dean Miller) – Tomer has previously represented England as a junior, now stepping into the senior ranks. He has adapted to the senior competition well, finishing 12th in Diest, Belgium and 15th in Elgoibar last year.
James Kingston (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway) - This will be an England debut for James over cross country. This follows a good run at the Liverpool Trial in November having won both the Southern and National Cross Country titles last January and February.
Senior women
Sarah Astin (Belgrave Harriers, Geoff Watkin) - Sarah was the English Cross Country Champion last season and has had great success with her club so far this winter, taking the ECCA National Cross Country Relays title. She has represented England across the track and cross country, securing a podium finish in Diest, Belgium.
Niamh Brown (Aldershot, Farnham & District, Tim Eglen) – Niamh has represented England as a junior securing a gold in Caceres, Spain in 2017 and recently ran the fastest leg at the National Cross Country Relays.
Lauren Hall (Aldershot, Farnham & District, Tim Eglen) – Lauren had a great outdoor season last summer running PBs over 3000m, 5000m and 2000m steeplechase and has continued this success into the winter recently finishing 12th at the European trials.
Lauren McNeil (Hallamshire Harriers) – a regular to England selection on the roads, Lauren returns to cross country after representing England at Hannut last year finishing 10th. Closely following Sarah, Lauren was the 4th lady home in the ECCA National Cross Country last year.
Junior men
Noah Campion (Bedford & County, Simon Goodwin) - Noah had a very good cross country season last year, finishing 5th in the South of England Championships and 7th in the English National Cross Country Championships. Noah has built on this excellent form on the mud with a 2nd place in the Cross Internacional de Itálica in Seville.
James Dargan (Aldershot, Farnham & District, Mick Woods) - James has enjoyed an excellent year which began with a 4th place finish in Hannut, followed by 2nd place in the English National Cross Country championships. James transitioned well from the mud of cross country by quickly adding the TCS Mini London Marathon to his list of success.
Quinn Miell-Ingram (Radley, Wendy Miell-Ingram) - Quinn has made great strides this year and is building on his 15th place in the Inter Counties and 8th place in the English National Cross Country Championships.
Henry Dover (Shaftesbury Barnet, Mark Goddard) - Henry finished the 2022/2023 cross country season on a high, with a 1st place in the English National Cross Country Championships and a 3rd place in the Inter Counties Championships. The 2023/24 season has got off to a tremendous start with a victory at the European trials in Liverpool.
Junior women
Lizzie Wellsted (Colchester Harriers) - Lizzie has made significant progress as an U20 athlete this year representing GB at the European Cross Country championships in Brussels finishing a credible 13th, and 3rd scorer for the U20 women gold medal winning team.
India Barwell (Lincoln Wellington, Rob Lewis) – This will be India’s England debut as she has gained her first England cross country vest following her 8th overall position (6th U20) at the Liverpool Cross Challenge and running the third fastest leg at the National Cross Country Relays.
Beth Rogers (Ilkley, Sally Malir) - Beth is another U20 who is making her England cross country debut after representing the red rose at the British and Irish Mountain Running Championships in September 2022.
Isobelle Jones (Wolverhampton & Biltson) – This will be Isobelle’s England debut for cross country after representing at the Cardiff 5k road championships in May, clocking 16:06.
Support staff:
- Senior Men’s Team Manager: Eamonn Martin
- Senior Women’s Team Manager: Sue Lamb
- Junior Men’s Team Manager: Keith Holt
- Junior Women’s Team Manager: Jo Newcombe