Radcliffe krijgt bedenktijd

Paula Radcliffe will be allowed to leave her decision to chase a third IAAF World Cross Country crown until as late as three weeks before next years race.Radcliffe has a busy spring schedule, beginning with the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March where Team England have entered her for both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

Druk programma
The defence of her Flora London Marathon title is already confirmed for April 23, but she is yet to announce whether the World Cross Country in Fukuoka on April 1-2 figures in her plans.Radcliffe was not included among those athletes pre-selected for the trip, all of whom will travel directly from Melbourne to represent the Norwich Union GB team.
Jo Pavey is among the four men and four women chosen, although the west country star has been given more time to decide whether she wishes to contest the long or short-course race. Despite being the most successful country at last weekends SPAR European Cross Country championships, only Mo Farah and Natalie Harvey who competed in Tilburg have been chosen early.

Succes EK cross
“For the second successive year we topped the European medals table and I think that is to the credit of the athletes who ran and the personal coaches who prepared them,” said Alan Storey, UK Athletics senior performance manager for endurance.”The inevitable injuries, late-season marathons and preparations for the Commonwealth Games denied us a number of senior athletes who would have helped our women to a runaway victory and our men to challenge for a medal.
“Every nation had athletes missing so we need to keep things in perspective, and we should also remember that victory in Europe does not change our world rankings.”Storey, who is chairman of the selection committee, revealed a second wave of selections will be announced on January 23, immediately after the UK Cross Challenge in Cardiff.The remainder of the side will be selected on March 11, immediately after the trials.

Pre-selected athletes for the Norwich Union GB team competing at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, April 1-2:

Senior Men
4K short-course race: Andy Baddeley (Harrow AC), Mo Farah (Newham and Essex Beagles), Chris Davies (Telford AC).
12K long-course race: Gavin Thompson (Crawley AC).

Senior Women
8K long-course race: Kathy Butler (Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC), Natalie Harvey (South London Harriers), Mara Yamauchi (Harrow AC).4K short or 8K long-course race: Jo Pavey (Exeter Harriers)

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