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World Cross Country Championships

Steve Vernon © UK Athletics

Steve Vernon had a disappointing run at the World Cross Championships in Fukuoka Japan finishing 89th at the Championships.

Coach David Turnbull explained "Steve ran his hardest but has only been able to cross-train since the trial three weeks ago after a picking up a calf tear".

Steve felt slow and said "It's disappointing but you have to be 100-per-cent and the speed work is vital in the lead up to an event like this".

The race was won for the fifth time by Ethiopian Kenenesa Bekele, Steve was 4th Briton home for the G.B. team who finished 15th in the team race.

Steve will be back in training for the early season track races before the European Mountain Running Championships which take place in Czechoslovakia in July.

Jess Coulson in Brussels

Jessica Coulson (right) who trains in the same squad as Steve at Stockport Harriers is competing at the World Schools' Cross Country Championships next Monday at Rimini in Italy.

Stockport Grammar pupil Jess sharpened up for the event with a personal best of 10 minutes and 5 seconds to win a 3,000 metre track race at Robin Park Stadium, Wigan on Saturday whilst representing the North of England team.

Jess who will be representing the England Schools' team in Italy also won her first medal at the English Schools' Cross Country Championships recently coming third.

The Harriers' junior squads will face a tough challenge at the Mow Cop Killer Mile in Stoke on 27th April which has an uphill climb of one-in-four.

The record is held by club stalwart Bashir Hussain, the recently crowned World Indoor 1,500 and 3,000 metre Veteran over-40s Champion, who will be running the event.

Bashir set the record in the late eighties and will be on hand to offer advice to the club's youngsters.


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