Reigning European Cross Country Atelew Bekele of Belgium finished a disappointing ninth at the 80th staging of the Cinque Mulini meeting in San Vittore Olona on Sunday.

With the second edition of the Africa Cross Championships set to take place on Sunday, 18 March at Keurboom Park in Cape Town and the absence of a World Championships this year stiff competition awaits all athletes at this prestigious event.

European champion Atelew Bekele will be aiming to conclude his season on a winning note at the Cinque Mulini - the last IAAF World Cross Country meeting in San Vittore Olona on Sunday.

Defending champion Emelia Gorecka (Mick Woods/Surrey) will be favourite to retain the junior title she won 12 months ago when she lines up in Cofton Park, Birmingham at this Saturday’s McCain Inter Counties Cross Country and Challenge Final (10 March), but there will be a new name on both senior trophies.

SA Cross Country Trials winner Elroy Gelant will spearhead the 24 member team to represent South Africa at the second CAA Africa Cross Country Championships at Keurboom Park, Cape Town on Sunday 18 March.

The Southern Region Cross Country Championships took place on 3 March on a flat grass course at the Gymkhana track in Mauritius. The hot weather, with temperatures up to 36 degrees, and the flat grass course was advantageous to the South African team who dominated the Championships. The team also took the gold medal in the team competition for men and women.

Saucony English National Cross Country Championships, Parliament Hill, London, February 25

Linda Byrne of Dundrum South Dublin who achieved the Olympic qualification standard in the Dublin Marathon is set to compete in the Woodie’s DIY Inter Club Cross Country Championships in Santry this Sunday. Byrne will be the strong favourite with club-mate and reigning champion Ava Hutchinson, who also achieved the Marathon Olympic standard also in contention.

The 26th annual Fukuoka International Cross Country, Fukuoka, Japan, was held today (25) on the course that was used for the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

On Feb. 14 the Japanese federation released the elite fields for the Feb. 25 Fukuoka International Cross-Country Meet. At the top of the senior men's 10 km are 10000 m national champion Yuki Sato (Team Nissin Shokuhin) and past 1500 m and 5000 m national champion Yuichiro Ueno (Team S&B).