Sussex, as we go to press, is fielding probably their strongest senior men’s team for many years, in the Counties Athletic Union cross country championships at Crofton Park, Birmingham on Saturday.
In recent years many leading Sussex runners have declined selection for this event but this year just two of the top nine in the County championships back in January are unable to don the Sussex vest.
Ben Tickner is flying in from the continent just to compete but he will also have an eye on selection for the World Cross-country championships as this race is also the selection race for that championship.
Having won the South of England title and finished fifth in the National Championships just two weeks back Tickner must be in line for a place in the British squad.
He will be supported by County champion Jon Pepper, Max Thomas and Ryan Driscoll who were all top five performers in the County championship.
Other Sussex runners in line for an international vest will be Emma Macready in the senior women’s race, who had placed tenth on the heavily muddied National course and Grace Baker in the Junior women’s team following her fourth place in the National event.
In the Younger age groups George Pool, in the Under 13 and Joe Body in the Under 15 races will be closely watched for a high placing.
EUROPEAN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
This however is not the only event of interest this weekend for Sussex athletes Lee Emanuel and Charlie George will be donning the British vests in the European Indoor Championships in Prague.
Both are in excellent form but they have to negotiate heats before lining up in the final and a chance of a medal.
Emanuel is ranked at number two behind Germany's Richard Ringer and will run his heat of the 3,000m on Friday before hopefully racing in the final late Saturday. Emanuel has also the second fastest time in the 1,500m where sixth placed Grice will run his 1500m heat on Saturday morning with his final on Sunday.