Aleksandra The Great Takes Last-GASP Victory

UGANDA’S MOSES KIPSIRO AND POLAND’S ALEKSANDRA LISOWSKA TAKE THE TITLES AS IRELAND’S SHONA HEASLIP IS WOMEN’S RUNNER-UP

- Steve Smythe

ON A HOT bank holiday weekend, over 8000 participated in a quality event which took in the best of Birmingham including a scenic loop of Cannon Hill Park.

There was an enthralling women’s race which was not decided until the closing stages in Birmingham city centre.

The race had been billed as a best of British affair but Gemma Steel and Charlotte Arter were late withdrawals and last year’s leading Briton Katrina Wootton was not yet back in her 2017 form and it turned out to be a European top three.

For much of the race it looked like Fatna Maraoui was on her way to a runaway victory. The 40-year-old Italian, who can boast a 32:38 PB and was 14th in the European cross-country in 2012, ahead of Wootton’s 22nd, began to look more vulnerable on the tougher second half and lost some momentum on the hills and her lead was quickly pegged back.

As they entered the last kilometre, Garmin Great Ireland Run winner Shona Heaslip suddenly emerged on her shoulder. The pair survived a minor loss of momentum when they briefly were unsure of direction.