30.03.2008

World Cross bronze to Australia

Outstanding runs by Benita Johnson, Lisa-Jane Weightman, Anna Thompson and Melissa Rollison have led Australia to the team bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Weightman (20), Rollison (26) and Thompson (27) gave close support to Johnson, who won the title in Brussels in 2004 and was first non-African this time in 11th place. Zatopek winner Melinda Vernon (41) and steeplechaser Vicky Mitchell (54) also produced solid runs but were outside the top four point scoring positions.

In cold, occasionally rainy and blustery conditions in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park, Ethiopia produced its first ever sweep of the individual medals. Kenenisa Bekele (senior men), Tirunesh Dibaba (senior women), Ibrahim Jeilan (junior men) and Genzebe Dibaba (junior women) all claimed titles.

Kenya claimed the senior and junior men’s race with Ethiopian winning the senior and junior women’s titles.

Consistent running from all six of Australia’s senior women ensured a spot on the podium with Johnson refusing to accept that the team's medal success had been a surprise.

"All the girls have been running really well.  We stacked really well and had a really good race,"  Johnson said before paying tribute to Australian coach and Irish legend Sonia O'Sullivan, who won both long and the now-discontinued short course races in Marrakech in 1998 and is now Australian team manager.

"Sonia's a fantastic inspiration for any team and most countries would give their eye teeth for that."

"I'm thrilled as I was only fifth in our trial - I've had a knee injury - now I can concentrate on my preparations for Beijing."

"In six weeks time I'd have been a contender to win," the 2004 champion told the IAAF after leading the Australian women to the team bronze with 84 points behind the all-powerful Ethiopians (18 points) and Kenyans (22).  Australia just sneaked past the USA who finished with 87 points but were well clear of Morocco (100) and the first Europeans (Great Britain- 116).

Australia won a team bronze in the women’s short course event in Fukuoka, Japan in 2006, however it is Australia’s first medal in the traditional long course team’s event.

Fellow Australian Craig Mottram, whose mother is a Scot and who was hoping to produce something special for his many Scottish fans, finished 31^st in the men’s race. The Australian senior men’s team finished ninth.

Ryan Gregson was the first Australian junior male home in 31^st place with the team finishing in 10^th and ACT’s Emily Brichacek finished 21^st in the junior women’s event and the team placed 7^th.

Australian Results

Senior Men – Team 9th
Craig Mottram        31
Michael Shelley      51
David McNeill         69
Liam Adams           70
Collis Birmingham    74
Martin Dent           105
Andrew Letherby    (109)
Ben St.Lawrence    (127)

Senior Women – Team 3rd
Benita Johnson         11
Lisa Jane Weightman 20
Melissa Rollison         26
Anna Thompson        27
Melinda Vernon         41
Victoria Mitchell        54

Junior Men – Team 10th
Ryan Gregson           31
Richard Everest        47
Duer Yoa                54
Ashley Watson        90

Junior Women – Team 7th
Emily Brichacek        21
Elise Clayton            24
Tamara Carvolth       34
Alexis McKillop          54