ATHLETICS: Mayock plans Belfast return

ATHLETICS

Mike Rowbottom
Monday 22 February 1999 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

JOHN MAYOCK, forced to miss next month's World Indoor Championships because of injury, plans to be back in time for the World Cross-country Championships on 27-28 March.

The European indoor 3,000m champion, named yesterday in the British team for Belfast, is currently in Ireland receiving treatment from Ger Hartmann, the physiotherapist Liz McColgan credits with saving her career. But Mayock indicated to the selectors that he would be fit enough to contest the 4km race in what is now a two-day cross-country event.

Britain's leading cross-country runners Paula Radcliffe and Jon Brown, who missed Saturday's trials at Nottingham in order to prepare on the other side of the Atlantic, were included in the six-strong teams for the longer Belfast races, over 8km and 12km respectively. Radcliffe joins the first three home in the trials - Angela Mudge, Tara Kryswicki and Lucy Wright. The remaining two discretionary places go to athletes who missed the trial - Birhan Dagne, the 21-year-old Ethiopian currently applying for full British citizenship, and Vikki McPherson of Scotland.

McPherson's fellow Scot Hayley Haining, whose unexpected 13th place in last year's World Championships helped Britain to an unexpected team bronze, told selectors she was unavailable because of a calf injury.

The American Jackie Joyner-Kersee will lose her world heptathlon record at the end of this year due to a technical change to the women's javelin.

From 1 April a new javelin with a slightly different centre of gravity will be used in women's competitions so that the implement will land more consistently on its tip.

As the javelin is one of the seven disciplines used in the heptathlon, the International Amateur Athletic Association has decided to erase Joyner- Kersee's mark of 7,291 points set at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

GB squad, Digest, page 27

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in