cross country selection policies 2012/13

September 2012

Introduction

The 2012 track season saw us witness some outstanding performances by endurance athletes in the Olympic Stadium. There were also some excellent performances by our junior endurance athletes at the IAAF World Junior Championships.

As we head towards the 2012/13 cross country season, the sport and endurance has a real opportunity to inspire and to build off the back of performances over the past 12 months.

The 2012/13 Cross Country season sees the IAAF World Cross Country Championships back on the calendar, taking place in Bydgoszcz, Poland on 24 March 2013.

Before 2012 draws to a close, the European Cross Country Championships in Budapest, Hungary on the 9 December 2012 will be UKA’s main focus. 

UKA will continue to send full teams to these Championships. The selection policy in 2012 will, for the first time, focus on a trial race where the junior and U23 teams of six athletes will be selected from the first six across the line.

In the senior trial race, the first five athletes across the line will be selected, with a further place added at the selectors' discretion.

In early 2013 (5 January), the focus will be the Great Edinburgh Cross Country International Challenge event organised by Nova International.

The team event, which moves into its third year, is a match against USA and Europe. UKA will be selecting Aviva GB & NI senior and junior teams, providing UK endurance with a highly competitive cross country team opportunity in early 2013.

The 2013 cross season will include the 40th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.  This is the same venue used for the World Cross in 2010, so will be a familiar venue for some GB & NI Team athletes. The World Cross selection policy will focus on the first four across the line at the trial, providing athletes meet the selection criteria, with the remaining places being filled in line with the selection criteria.

In addition to the Aviva GB & NI Team events, the domestic fixtures kick off with the McCain Cross Country Challenge in Bristol on the Sunday 28 October, followed by McCain Liverpool Cross Challenge - incorporating the European Cross Country Trials - on Saturday 24 November, Antrim on 12 January, Cardiff on 20 January and the McCain Cross Challenge Final - incorporating the Inter Counties and World Cross Trials - in Birmingham on 9 March 2012.

Athletes and coaches are encouraged to make sure they read the selection policies prior to the cross season starting.