| Name |
Nat |
Age |
VAQUERO
Julia |
ESP |
27 |
In top 16 at last 5 World XC,
best placing of 4th in 97. Twice 2nd in European XC; 7x Spanish XC Champion, Spanish
record holder at 3000, 5000 & 10,000 |
DENBOBA
Merima |
ETH |
23 |
Leads 97/98 World Cross Challenge
standings. 6th, 7th & 4th at last 3 World Cross Country Championships. Big improvement
on track in 97; 5000 finalist in Athens |
WAMI
Gete |
ETH |
23 |
96 World Cross Country Champion;
3rd, 1st & 5th at last 3 World XC Championships. Big improvement on track in 96 to
take Olympic 10,000 bronze. Injured in summer 97 |
WORKU
Ayelech |
ETH |
18 |
96 World junior 5000 Champion. 97
World & 96 Olympic 5000 finalist. 97 World junior XC bronze |
SANDELL
Annemari |
FIN |
21 |
Former World Junior &
European senior Cross Country Champion. Twice world 10,000 finalist |
LLADO
Josiane |
FRA |
23 |
97 European XC Champion -
surprise winner |
RADCLIFFE
Paula |
GBR |
24 |
Silver in 97 World XC
Championships; 92 Junior Champion. 4th in Athens 5000, 5th in Atlanta & Gothenburg
5000s. Track 10,000 début due in April |
TALBOT
Liz |
GBR |
23 |
98 British 8k Cross Country
Champion. Same coach as Paula Radcliffe |
O'SULLIVAN
Sonia |
IRL |
28 |
Former World 5000 Champion.
European 3000 record holder & reigning European Champion at that distance. 97 Word
indoor 3000 silver but no big wins since 1995 |
SOMMAGGIO
Silvia |
ITA |
28 |
97 World 10,000 finalist. 95
World Student Games 5000 silver. 13th in 94 World XC |
TAKAHASHI
Chiemi |
JPN |
22 |
Has improved her placing in 6
successive World XC Championships, finishing 17th in 97. 97 World 10,000 finalist |
BARSOSIO
Sally |
KEN |
19 |
97 World 10,000 Champion -
Kenya's first senior woman track gold. 4:40 last mile to beat Ribeiro in Athens. Total of
8 World XC medals, second highest total by a woman |
CHEROMEI
Lydia |
KEN |
20 |
Youngest ever World Cross Country
Champion (aged 13 in 91 when winning junior race). 11th in 97 World XC. 3rd in 98 Kenyan
8k XC |
MARANGA
Jackline |
KEN |
20 |
One of world's best 1500 runners
in 97. Kenyan 1500 & Mile record holder. Successful move up in distance this winner;
98 Kenyan 8k Cross Country Champion. 3 Cross Challenge wins |
MUGO
Naomi |
KEN |
21 |
96 Olympic 1500 finalist, but
could not start (broken toe in semi). 96 World XC bronze. 4th in 98 Kenyan 4k XC |
OMORO
Jane |
KEN |
23 |
98 Kenyan Armed Forces XC
Champion, beating Maranga & Barsosio. 10th in 97 World XC Championships |
FERREIRA
Conceição |
POR |
36 |
Record 14 appearances in World XC
Championships, best of 3rd in 94. 93 World Half Marathon Champion. 94 European 10,000
silver |
CHIRILA
Mariana |
ROM |
33 |
Winner in Belfast & 3rd in
Durham this season; 5th in 97 European XC |
de REUCK
Colleen |
RSA |
33 |
Experienced marathoner; 9th 92
Olympics & 94 Boston, 1st 95 Honolulu, 1st 96 Berlin. 97 World & 96 Olympic 10,000
finalist. 5th in 96 World XC |
LYNCH
Nnenna |
USA |
26 |
98 US 8k XC Trial winner. 97
World Student 5000 Champion. Was at Oxford University |
