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>> Cross Country 2005
BELFAST INTERNATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY
(incorporating the
UK CROSS CHALLENGE)
in conjunction with
Sports Council NI and Belfast City Council
STORMONT
ESTATE BELFAST – SATURDAY 7th JANUARY 2006
Sports Council NI and
Belfast City Council are pleased to announce that last year’s Stormont
winner DATHAN RITZTENHEIN of the USA will be returning on 7th
January to defend his title in the Belfast International Cross Country.
The organisers are also optimistic that Ireland’s top cross country
runner GARY MURRAY will provide the American with ample
opposition after his phenomenal 12th place in last Sunday’s
European Cross Country in Holland.
The 22 year old
Colarado based RITZTENHEIN created a major sensation at Stormont
last Janauary when he showed little respect for a trio of Kenyan World
Cross Country medallists. Thanks to a spectacular display of aggressive
front running the American opened a commanding 30 seconds lead which
World Junior bronze medallist Ernest Kimeli reduced to 8 seconds in a
furious sprint finish. The Kenyans should have paid closer attention to
the talented RITZTENHEIN who holds the US Collegiate 10,000metres
record at 27.38. He is also a former World Junior cross country bronze
medallist from Ostend – the first US medallist in 20 years. The Boulder
based athlete along with Sergey Lebid (Ukraine) and Eamon Martin
(England) are the only athletes in 15 years to have broken the African
domination of Northern Ireland’s premier cross country event.
GARY MURRAY
is currently riding on the crest of a wave after leading the Irish team
home in last Sunday’s European Cross Country where he finished only half
a minute behind 6 times winner Lebid and 9 places ahead of first British
finisher Mohammed Farah. MURRAY was delighted with his top dozen
placing which followed 2 weeks after he completed a unique hat trick of
Irish Inter County Cross Country titles with an emphatic 100 yards
victory at Sligo racecourse. The St Malachy’s athlete, who is the
current Irish 1500metres champion, will now be aiming for a top 3 finish
at Stormont in 3 weeks time.
Previous winners at
this meeting which started in 1977 have included many World and Olympic
champions. Notable names have included Paula Radcliffe, Paul Tergat,
Steve Cram, Steve Ovett, John Treacy, Khalid Skah, Liz McColgan, Brendan
Foster and a host of world class Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes.
Councillor Wallace Browne, The Lord
Mayor, Belfast City Council states;
“Belfast City Council has been a long
time supporter of the Belfast International Cross Country. We are
delighted to be involved with such an outstanding international event,
which is bringing over 1000 athletes into the City.”
Professor Eric Saunders OBE, Chairman of Sports Council
NI said
"We are delighted to be able to continue our long
association with this superb event. The hosting of national and
international competitions in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics,
will provide an exciting opportunity to increase our overall levels of
participation and to inspire our current and up-and-coming high
performance athletes to aim to compete for their place in the London
2012 Olympics."
For further information please contact:
Brian
Hill, Public Relations Officer, Northern Ireland Athletic Federation
Tel: 028 9127 9630 (w) or 0797 7037629 (mobile)
OR
Northern Ireland Athletic Federation
Tel: 028 9060 2707 Fax: 028 9030 9939
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