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Twelve months after hanging up her spikes, Hayley Yelling takes an emphatic victory at Sefton Park
FORMER European cross-country champion Hayley Yelling launched a successful comeback to competition, defeating a top-class field at the McCain UK Cross Challenge at Sefton Park, thus confirming her place on the British team for the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin.
Yelling, who hung up her spikes on the back of a disappointing performance at last year’s European Cross Country Championships in Brussels, has kept fit since announcing her retirement but in the last three weeks, the 35-year-old resumed heavier training and in her first big race of the season, Yelling delivered a typically gutsy run to take the title.
After taking the victory, an ebullient Yelling said she came into the race with a new philosophy: “Maybe relaxing is the way forward, I’ve got nothing to prove, no pressure and I just wanted to enjoy myself. I didn’t expect to do well – it’s a bit of a shock!”
Second last year, the cross-country specialist defeated Freya Murray and Jessica Sparke for the title while Katrina Wootton finished fourth.
Mike Skinner started the men’s race as the arguable pre-race favourite and the 30-year-old lived up to his billing, taking the title ahead of Moumin Geele and Ben Whitby while last year’s winner Andy Vernon had to settle for fifth.
Skinner, who also won the opener in Gateshead, explained his tactics for the race: “I settled on the first lap and got into a rhythm feeling quite comfortable and strong. At the end I saw the finish line and went. I’m pleased. I’ve got a great training group and that brings out the best in you.”
At the tender age of 15, Emelia Gorecka won the women’s under-20 race while Richard Goodman was the surprise winner of the men’s under-20.
The senior, under-23 and junior teams for the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin, December 13, will be announced on Tuesday.
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