Inter Counties 2010 - Part One

Newham & Essex Beagles, MO FARAH, did not underestimate his opposition in the McCain World Cross County Trials, which was an official UKA event reports Alastair Aitken for Runners Digest.

Strict copyright. Xman2010.

The final McCain Challenge race of the season, held in conjunction with the Inter Counties, was over a lightly undulating course at Crofton Park, Birmingham on the 13th of March.

    For the first mile there was a huge group at the front, running over the fast grassland course, with 2008 'National' winner Tom Humphries and this year's Champion, Andy Vernon, at the front of that group. The lead changed about six times after that before Mo Farah, biding his time in the group, went to the front with Moumin Geele with Vernon back in third.

     After 8 kilometres Farah put his foot down, which had a devastating effect on the field of 285 finishers. Vernon went after him and Geele was next. These three were safe for the medals but Blackheath's Michael Skinner

got sufficient daylight between him and a bunch of good athletes to come in fourth. The tightest competition was between 5 and 11, as a group of runners dashed down the final 300metre incline to the finish. Phil Hinch, running for Warwickshire won that intense battle. Lancashire won the county title, finishing their six within 78 places. The first 15 home were 1 Mo Farah (34:41), 2 Andy Vernon, Hampshire (35.25); 3 Moumin Geele, Newham & Essex Beagles (35.40), 4 Michael Skinner (35:54), 5 Phil Hinch (36:02), 6 James Walsh (36:03), 7 James Wilkinson (36:05), 8 Darren Deed (36:05), 9 Tom Humphries (36:07), 10 Luke Gunn (36:09), 11 Nielson Hall (36:12), 12 Tsegezab Woldemichael (36:23), 13 Ben Lindsey (36:23), 14 Bruce Raeside (36:27), and 15 Simon Deakin (36:29).

MO FARAH:-  When did you decide to make a move?

                                         " 2 laps to go"

                        When did you think you would run in the event

                        "I knew some weeks ago I was going to do it'

 I felt it must give him a little bit of confidence by running at altitude, when coming up against the Kenyans in the World cross country, because of the speed they go off at for the first mile.'

          " Definitely. It is very important as there some good guys to run against.'

    Did Mo put the World Trials as one of his favourite races and has it been a good year for him?

    " Did not run as well as I hoped in Edinburgh but it has been. It was  a good race today but my run indoors was probably my favourite.'

    " You told me at the National Road Relay, when your team won, that the Barcelona European is your main aim but

       will you be part of Newham's team in the National 12 stage road relay at Sutton Coldfield?

       " Might do that. It depends'

       My comment to that was 'Bob Smith (The Manager) would be pleased to hear about that posibility!'

ANDY VERNON:-  Andy you won the 'National' title, British Universities'  and came second today which is important, as it was a good second and will get you into the World's ?

 " Behind Mo. Mo a few years ago was 10th in the he World cross. He is a very good talent as a cross-country runner. He won the European Cross in 2006 so, to be second behind him---

    ' How long has he been going to altitude?

    ' For five moths a year now'

    " If you did that do you think you would be up alongside him?

    " At the moment I am University so when I finish University it is something I would like to try and, hopefully, I  can go for a few months at a time like Mo does, maybe even with him'

    ' Today in the World Trial I wanted to defend my title but regarding the 'National' I had not won that till this year."'

      Now Andy has won every senior cross country title of importance in the UK but did he train hard through to the races?

    ' For the 'National' and this one I did ease down'

MOUMIN GEELE:- " I am pleased with this race after coming third in the 'National' . It was OK and a nice course, better than the National course. To-day I am a bit tired as I had a little bit of a problem with my back in the last lap.'

    ' The two races will give me confidence to run well over 5000 in the Summer."

Geele grabs 3rd spot. Xman2010