Pavey to compete in cross-country

Olympic 5,000 metres finalist Jo Pavey has been selected for the Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland team to compete in the Spar European Cross-Country Championships next month.

Pavey, who was fifth in Athens, has been selected alongside Hayley Yelling, Helen Clitheroe and Natalie Harvey, who were the first three home in the trial race incorporated into Saturday’s Reebok London Cross Challenge at Parliament Hill Fields.

Also running in the women’s senior team in Heringsdorf, Germany, are former European junior cross-country champion Charlotte Dale, and Faye Fullerton, both of whom were part of the junior women’s gold-medal winning team at last year’s event.

Seasoned internationals Keith Cullen and Karl Keska have been selected for the men’s senior team for the competition on Sunday, December 12.

The pair, who were both part of the squad which took team gold in 1999, will take their place in the team alongside four athletes relatively new to senior international competition.

Cullen finished third in the trial race and returns to the team after numerous illness and injury problems since he competed in the marathon at the 2000 Olympics.

Keska, who has also suffered injury problems since finishing ninth in the 10,000m at last year’s world championships, did not contest the trial and is selected subject to fitness.

He will compete in a road race in Manchester, Connecticut, where he is based, this week.