World U20 Champions Set for NI International Cross Country
19 October 2022
World U20 5000m Silver Medallist, Medina Eisa Kumanda and World U20 5000m Bronze Medallist, Melknat Wudu Sharew are set to compete at the International, NI & Ulster Even Age Group Championships and Bobby Rea Cross Country on Saturday 22nd October 2022 at the Billy Neill MBE Country Park.
The event is supported by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. It combines the Northern Ireland International Cross Country with the annual NI & Ulster Even Age Groups; and Bobby Rea Cross Country is part of the World Athletics Silver Cross Country Tour. Councillor Aaron McIntyre, Leisure & Community Development Chairman said: “The council is proud to partner with Athletics NI on these prestigious races. Our country park is a fantastic setting for these races and I am sure all the routes offer their own challenges. I would like to welcome all the competitors and their supporters to the Lisburn & Castlereagh area and wish them all the best on the day.”
Contending for the top spots, will be GB International, Izzy Fry, who finished 9th in the Spar European Athletics Cross Country Championships in Dublin in 2019 and boasts a 5000m PB of 15:21. Joining her fellow countrywomen, will be Ethiopia’s Wubrist Kassie, who regularly competes on a world stage in the 1500m and 3000m events, with a 1500m PB of 4:03.
The Men’s event will see Cardiff Half Marathon Silver Medallist, Gizelaw Ayana (Ethiopia) contend for medal placings, along with Kenya’s Ishmael Kipkurui, the 2022 African Games 1500m Silver Medallist.
The team of Nakita Burke, Robyn McKee and Edel Monaghan along with Natasha Adams, who will be making her NI & Ulster Cross Country debut will represent NI & Ulster, along with the Men’s team of Eskander Turki, Craig McMeechan, John Craig and Gary Crummy, who will also be making his NI & Ulster debut in senior competition.
Boosting over 1,500 entries in total, the highest number of entries in some years, athletes from across NI & Ulster will compete across 12 races, starting with the U10 age group at 11am.
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