Birmingham set for cross country trial
The Victorian has spent most of the period since his victory at the Zatopek:10 meet training at the winter ski resort come distance runners retreat of Falls Creek in the Victorian highlands.With some notable names missing from the start list on Sunday, such as Zatopek second and third placegetters Ben St Lawrence and Michael Shelley and multiple national cross country champion Martin Dent and Oceania cross country champion Tim Rowe, is it expected that the quality of performances in the trial will need to be consistently high for Australia to name a team to contest the men's event in March at the world cross country championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. However, the winner on Sunday of the open men's and women's races, provided they have achieved a particular performance standard on the track, are automatic selections as individuals.
Leading challengers to Birmingham will be fourth placegetter at Zatopek, Jeff Hunt, who is using the race as his last tune up prior to his marathon debut in Beppu, national cross country champion Clint Perrett and Liam Adams.
In the women's race former world cross country champion Benita Willis will look to put a disappointing 9th place run of 33:58 at Zatopek behind her, with a strong field including national 10000m champion Eloise Wellings, Great Australian Run victor Nikki Chapple, Lara Tamsett, Emily Bricacek, Cassie Fien and Melinda Vernon making for an interesting race.The junior events are lacking some depth compared to previous years. Representative in the junior race at the world cross country last year, David Ricketts, is expected to challenge Kevin Batt, who has run an impressive 14:21.99 for 5000m this season, whilst Ondieki 3000m champion at Zatopek, Demi Wood of South Australia, will face competition from Victoria's Grace Thek and Queensland's Natalie Dudkowski.
Inside Athletics will be providing editorial and pictorial coverage of the event.
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