England team selection for London International Cross Country
Later this month, a team of 16 athletes will represent England at the inaugural London International Cross Country. Part of the UK Cross Challenge, this brand-new race will take place at the prestigious Parliament Hill, incorporating multiple trials for the World Cross Country and the World Universities Cross Country Championships as well as the Home Countries International.
Athletes will battle it out across the 10km course, split over five 2km laps. Dubbed the ‘Night of the 10,000m PBs for cross country’, it is set to be an exciting day of racing.
Later this month, a team of 16 athletes will represent England at the inaugural London International Cross Country. Part of the UK Cross Challenge, this brand-new race will take place at the prestigious Parliament Hill, incorporating multiple trials for the World Cross Country and the World Universities Cross Country Championships as well as the Home Countries International.
Athletes will battle it out across the 10km course, split over five 2km laps. Dubbed the ‘Night of the 10,000m PBs for cross country’, it is set to be an exciting day of racing.
Senior Men
Alfie Manthorpe (Sheffield & Dearne, John Wood) – Alfie will be making his England cross country debut after unfortunately being unable to compete in Elgoibar, Spain. He recently represented GB at the European Cross Country in Brussels and had a fantastic outdoor season last year, setting PBs across the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m on the track.
Jack Gray (Cambridge and Coleridge, Mark Vile) – No stranger to representing England, Jack has worn the red rose across both road and cross country. He was also part of the victorious Cambridge team at the recent National Cross Country Relays, finishing second fastest on his leg.
Zak Mahamed (Southampton, Idris Hamud) – Zak has had a fantastic autumn on the roads, winning the Great South Run on October. He has gained great experience in racing cross country internationally in various European venues and at last year’s World Cross Country Championships.
James Kingston (Tonbridge AC, Mark Hookway) – This will be an England debut for James over the cross country, however he did represent Great Britain at the recent European U23 Championships in Brussels.
Senior Women
Niamh Bridson-Hubbard (Blackheath and Bromley, Phil O’Dell) - Niamh finished 8th in the European Trial in Liverpool gaining her selection for the European Cross Country in Brussels where she finished a respectable 19th position. Familiar with domestic racing, Niamh finished an impressive 3rd at last year’s National Cross.
Phoebe Barker (Tonbridge AC, Richard Owen) - Phoebe finished 13th at the European Trial in Liverpool and competed as part of the England Team in Seville where she finished 12th.
Amelia Quirk (Bracknell AC, Mick Woods) – Amelia finished 6th in the European Trial in Liverpool and qualified to run in the GB team in the European Cross Country in Brussels finishing in 14th place. Amelia has previously represented England in Seville earlier this season where she finished 7th. Amelia also represented GB in the World Cross Country in Australia last season with an impressive 25th place and 2nd Brit home.
Ellie Wallace (North Somerset, Julian Emery) - Ellie finished 14th in Liverpool at the European Trial. This great form comes off a successful summer season seeing Ellie run PBs in 1500m, 3000m and 5000m on the track. Ellie recently raced her very first 10k, earning her England selection for Valencia next weekend.
U20 Men
William Rabjohns (Poole AC, Mark Pauley) – William has proven himself across both the track and cross country this year. Last season he came an excellent third place in the English National Cross Country and in the summer represented England in the 1500m at the Commonwealth Youth Games, finishing in 5th place.
James Dargan (Aldershot, Farnham and District) - 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.
Quinn Miell-Ingram (Radley, Wendy Miell-Ingram) - Quinn has made great strides this year coming 8th in the English National Cross Country Championships and recently finishing 4th at the Juan Muguerza Elgoibar Cross Country in Spain.
Jake Stevens (Invicta East Kent, Donald Carter) – Jake had a fantastic year of cross country in 2023 with fourth place at the English National Cross Country Championships followed by fourth the following in month in the CAU Inter Counties.
U20 Women
Eliza Nicholson (Blackheath and Bromley) – Eliza had an excellent summer representing England at the Commonwealth Youth Games, claiming the bronze medal in the 3000m. In October, Eliza recorded the second fastest leg in the U17 National Road Relays at Sutton Park.
Innes Fitzgerald (Exeter, Gavin Pavey) – Innes is the current European U20 Women’s Cross Country champion. In Brussels, Innes maturely dominated the field on a challenging muddy course to win by a clear margin and claim the individual gold medal along with the team gold. On the domestic scene Innes has been victorious in all the key cross country races.
Jess Bailey (Leven Valley, Matthew Long) - Jess represented GB & NI at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels finishing a credible 8th, and second scorer for the U20 Women’s gold medal winning team. Jess represented England in Trinidad and Tobago last summer, finishing in 4th place in the 3000m. Back in 2022, Jess was world champion in the U20 up-and-down mountain running event.
Isobelle Jones (Wolverhampton and Bilston) - This will be Isobelle’s England debut for cross country after representing at the Cardiff 5k road championships in May, clocking 16:06. Isobelle was due to compete for England at the Juan Muguerza Elgoibar Cross Country in Spain however was unable to because of industrial action.
Team Managers
- Senior Men – Eamonn Martin
- Senior Women – Sue Lamb
- Junior Men – Keith Holt
- Junior Women – Jo Newcombe