by Larry Eder
Chris Derrick, photo by Dan Vernon Photography (2014 Edinburgh XC)
USA won the team competition
EDINBURGH (GBR, Jan 10): Team USA won the competition at the Morrisons Great Edinburgh Cross Country (IAAF Permit) in muddy and windy conditions with 121 points ahead of Europe 189 and last year top team Great Britain 223. After his surprise win in the men’s invitational 4km event 12 months ago, USA’s Garrett Heath retained in clear fashion his title with 12:11 over reigning World CC Champion Japhet Korir 12:19 and US Dathan Ritzenhein 12:27. Fourth mile star Asbel Kiprop (pushed for pace for first 2 km lap) 12:29and fifth top Briton Tom Lancashire 12:35. Other top names in the race were 6th top steeple runner 2014 Jairus Birech 12:38 followed by Edwin Soi 12:44 and Thomas Longosiwa 12:45with Bernard Lagat 15th (13:07) and Silas Kiplagat 17th (13:56). This race did not count into the match. Emelia Gorecka bounced back and won the women 6 km in 21:26 over double European Champion Fionnualla Britton (21:33). Spain´s Trihas Gebre was third in 21:50. Brianne Nelson was the first American clocking 21:54 for fourth. European Champion Gemma Steel was 11th (22:25). The men’s long course race did see a successful defence by Chris Derrick over Jacob Riley for a USA 1-2 (25:31 and 25:33). Breaking up an American clean-sweep was Britain’s Jonny Hay who dug deep to clock 25:36 for the 8 km course. Euro Cross bronze medallist 2014 and former champion Alemayehu Bezabeh of Spain went out hard but paid the price and inished 20th (26:35). Continental champion Yemaneberhan Crippa of Italy (6 km 19:57) and USA’s Makena Morley (4km 14:40) had comfortably won the junior races. The meeting also included an international 2x1km mixed relay for the first time, with Gemma Kersey and James Bowness victorious for the England B team 6:43 ahead of GB’s Racheal Bamford and Ross Murray 6:46. The Scotland A team of Laura Muir and Ross Matheson was third 6:47. With help from Athletics Weekly.
