27-11-2012, 04:38 PM
Portugal's Ana Dulce Felix showcased her form ahead of next month's SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Budapest winning the women's 8.0km race at the International Warandecross Tilburg, a European Athletics Cross Country Permit Race, on Sunday.
Felix, a silver medallist at the 2011 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Velenje, clocked 27.39 to finish ahead of home star Adrienne Herzog 27:45 and the German pair of Eleni Gebrehiwot 28:09 and Sabrina Mockenhaupt 28:16.
The 30-year-old Portuguese star won the European 10,000m gold on the track in Helsinki this summer. After winning a bronze in Albufeira in 2010, she improved to a silver in Velenje and may well be in with a very good chance to claim the missing gold in Budapest.
Dame Tasama of Belgium won the men's 10 km race in 30:27 ahead of the local runner Khalid Choukoud 30:33, who was also awarded the national title by virtue of finishing as the best Dutch runner in the race. Ukraine's Ihor Geletiy finished third in 30:39.
At the Cross de lôAcier in Leffrinckoucke, another European Athletics Cross Country Permit Race held on Sunday, defending SPAR European Cross Country champion Fionnualla Britton of Ireland also gave ample indications of her form while finished third in a very strong women's field clocking 21.34.
Cornelius Kangogo of Kenya and Mekasha Waganesh of Ethiopia won the senior men's and women's races in the northern French city.
Felix, a silver medallist at the 2011 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Velenje, clocked 27.39 to finish ahead of home star Adrienne Herzog 27:45 and the German pair of Eleni Gebrehiwot 28:09 and Sabrina Mockenhaupt 28:16.
The 30-year-old Portuguese star won the European 10,000m gold on the track in Helsinki this summer. After winning a bronze in Albufeira in 2010, she improved to a silver in Velenje and may well be in with a very good chance to claim the missing gold in Budapest.
Dame Tasama of Belgium won the men's 10 km race in 30:27 ahead of the local runner Khalid Choukoud 30:33, who was also awarded the national title by virtue of finishing as the best Dutch runner in the race. Ukraine's Ihor Geletiy finished third in 30:39.
At the Cross de lôAcier in Leffrinckoucke, another European Athletics Cross Country Permit Race held on Sunday, defending SPAR European Cross Country champion Fionnualla Britton of Ireland also gave ample indications of her form while finished third in a very strong women's field clocking 21.34.
Cornelius Kangogo of Kenya and Mekasha Waganesh of Ethiopia won the senior men's and women's races in the northern French city.