VICTORIES FOR TICKNER AND DAMEN AT WORLD CROSS TRIALS
Louise Damen (self-coached) took the senior title at the McCain World Cross Trials incorporating the Inter Counties and McCain Challenge Final. Hundreds of athletes overcame testing conditions at Birmingham's Cofton Park as the mud worsened over the day's ten races.
Senior Women - 8km
Louise Damen (self-coached) continued an impressive cross country season by winning her first ever senior Inter Counties Cross Country title in 26:58, adding to the titles that she took as an Under-17 and Under-20.
The Hampshire athlete, who won the English championships two weeks ago by a minute, took the lead with 2km to go and built a 50m gap by the time she crossed the line.
Elle Baker (Dave Turnbull) finished second in 27:06, 18 seconds ahead of Gemma Steel (John Nuttall), with Euro Cross teammates Emily Wicks (Keith Donkin) (27:28), Steph Twell (Mick Woods) (27:30) and Lily Partridge (Woods) (27:34) following soon after. European Under-23 Cross Country Champion Jess Coulson (Woods) finished in ninth place in 27:58.
It was Baker, second at the Northern Cross Champs recently, who had led the way for much of the race. A high calibre pack of eight GB internationals broke away in the early stages of the race but it was not until the 6km mark that the decisive move was made. Baker pushed the pace with Damen and was the only athlete able to keep up as both women fought for their first senior Inter Counties titles. Damen stamped her authority on the race within the final kilometre however, forming an insurmountable gap and looking comfortable as she came home eight seconds clear of the Greater Manchester athlete.
The 30 year old headlined a narrow team victory for Hampshire too as their top six finishers saw them end on 151 points, three ahead of Surrey, who were led by fourth placer Emily Wicks. Yorkshire took third place on 190 with Emma Clayton leading the way for them in seventh place.
