With the cancellation of this year’s European Clubs Cross Country a large travelling party of Clonliffe Harriers will on Friday head Seville for the IAAF Cross Internacional de Itálica. This is an annual cross country competition that is held every January in Santiponce, near Seville, Spain. Inaugurated in 1982, the race course is set in the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Italica. As one of only two Spanish competitions to hold IAAF permit meeting status, it is one of the more prestigious races on the Spanish cross country circuit.
The competition comprises three general categories of race: children’s and junior races, the mass participation (“popular”) race, and the professional international races. The men’s international race was a 10km race until 1999 when it was increased to roughly 11km.The course of the race loops through the ancient streets of Itálica, passing alongside ruins throughout.The red clay ground usually makes for a dry running surface, although rain has occasionally made this a particularly difficult, muddy course in previous editions.
The senior men will compete in the international race, the team is Jayme Rossister, Cathal Doyle, Efrem Gidey and Eoin Taggart (although entered Ian Guiden is currently injured, but will travel as part of the team).
The senior women travelling are Alannah Cooley, Clodagh Galvin, Hannah Browne and Laura Tuite and the will compete in the “popular” race.
The U/20 men’s team is Aaron Cullen, Ben Guiden, Thomas Baltzar, Ian McAlweeney, Callum Simpson, Evan Foster, Alex Murray
U/20 Women: Sarah Bateson, Abbie Sheehy, Tess Loftus, Aimee Warren
U/18 women: Aoife Hession, Alana Fitzsimons, Katie Halpin
U/18 men: Niall Carberry, Alex Neuroth, John Lawrence.
Men “Popular” race: Stephen Cashin, Daniel Lacey, Jordan Byrne, Ryan Sheridan, also as an individual Declan Power.
See offical web site: http://www.crossinternacionaldeitalica.es/es/