Hayley Yelling (GBR) at the EAA press conferenc in Tilburg (© Hasse Sjögren)
While reigning men’s champion Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine appeared loose and upbeat on the eve of his attempt to collect a sixth European Cross Country title, the mixed preparations of Hayley Yelling for the defence of her women’s championship, left the Briton cautious in voicing expectations for what should be a very competitive women’s race tomorrow.
Confidently looking ahead to summer track campaign
Speaking through a translator, the 30-year-old Lebid said, “I’m ready. Based on my physical and mental condition, I think I can win.” Based upon his performances at the last four editions, in which he was first to cross the line, there is little reason to doubt the continent’s undisputed King of Cross Country.
Prior to his now traditional winter season debut, Lebid said his preparations at home in Ukraine and at altitude in Russia’s Caucasus Mountains went “extremely well. It doesn’t matter if the weather conditions are cold or warm. I am ready.”
Yet despite of or perhaps because of his continental success in races on the grass and in the mud, Lebid said that he’s already looking ahead the 2006 summer track season. To better prepare, he said that he’s already decided that he won’t contest the World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka next April.
“I’ve also prepared better for cross country than for track,” he said, adding that he receives more personal satisfaction from cross country competition, he’s eager to fill out his track resume. He has a bronze medal at 5000m to his credit from the 2002 European Championships, but he has yet to reach a final at the World Championships.
“My challenge now is to improve on the track.” His primary goal of the summer will be an attempt for a 5000/10,000m double win at the European Championships in August.
Here in Tilburg, he said he expects his chief competitors to be those who chased him to the podium last year: Juan Carlos de la Ossa of Spain, and Driss Maazouzi of France, who finished 2-3 last year.
Cautious predictions from Yelling
For Briton Hayley Yelling, who last year took a stunning if narrow win in Heringsdorf over Justyna Bak of Poland, cautious optimism is the key on the eve of her title defence.
“My preparation has been up-and-down,” she admitted, after a series of defeats to favourite Aniko Kalovics of Hungary this autumn. I’m trying not to have any expectations and will really just try to enjoy it.”
“I didn’t expect to win last year,” she added. “It really comes down to who is better on the day.”
Cross is ‘not a favourite discipline’ for Kiplagat
Also approaching the race with no expectations is Lornah Kiplagat who will lead the host squad on Sunday.
Despite possessing the strongest international credentials in the field, Kiplagat said, “I’m just hoping to do my best. I’ve prepared well, even though I’m not a crosser,” said Kiplagat, who arrived in Tilburg on Thursday after a brief training stint in her native Kenya. “I don’t really like cross country,” she added with a laugh, “But I’m looking forward to see what I can do. I just want to do as good as possible.”
Kiplagat, who finished 10th at the ING New York City Marathon 5 weeks ago, said Tilburg was always part of her autumn racing plan. She took two weeks off after New York, and said she’ll take a longer break after Sunday’s race.
While admitting that the discipline is not her favourite, she has had some success internationally, most notably with a sixth place finish at the World Championships in Brussels in 2004.
“Of course, I plan on doing my best, but I’m not really expecting anything. But of course,” she added, “I don’t like to lose.”
Tilburg, which is the venue for the annual Tilburg 10 Miles, is the first Dutch city to host a European Cross Country championship. About 350 athletes from 27 nations will be competing.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
