Farah and Yelling headline British squad for World Cross Country

Posted: Tuesday 16th March 2010 | 15:50

EUROPEAN indoor 3,000m champion Mo Farah and European cross country champion Hayley Yelling are the star names in a 21-strong Great Britain squad for the World Cross Country Championships in Bydgodzcz on March 28.

SURPRISE WIN: Hayley Yelling came out of retirement to win the European Cross Country title in December and is keen to add the world crown in Poland

Farah was tipped for a medal at December's European Cross Country Championships in Dublin but capitulated in the final stretch, settling for silver for the second successive year before receiving lengthy medical treatment.

But having resumed his warm-weather training in Kenya and returned to action with victory at the World trials in March, the 26-year old is fighting fit for his World Cross Country debut.

Farah will be backed up by Andy Vernon, James Wilkinson and Mike Skinner in the senior men's race in Poland.

While Farah took silver in Dublin, Yelling went one better, capturing a surprise gold despite having had only five weeks intensive training since coming out of retirement.

Yelling will be joined by the top three from March's trials, Freya Murray, Steph Twell and Fay Fullerton, as well as promising youngster Stevie Stockton in the senior women's race.

Of the 12 juniors making the trip to Poland, 16-year old Emelia Gorecka will lead the women's team having won both the European and World trials.

At 15, Gorecka was too young to compete in Dublin but having turned 16 in January, the teenager will get her chance to impress in Poland.

16-year old Richard Goodman also won both the European and World junior trials and will be joined by five other athletes including 20-year old Tom Farrell, who recently broke the British junior record for 3000m indoors.

AVIVA GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM

SENIOR MEN

Mo Farah - Newham & Essex Beagles

Mike Skinner - Blackheath & Bromley

Andy Vernon - AFD

James Wilkinson - Leeds City

SENIOR WOMEN

Faye Fullerton - Havering Mayesbrook

Freya Murray - Chester Le Street & Dist AC

Stevie Stockton - Vale Royal

Stephanie Twell - AFD

Hayley Yelling - Windsor Slough, Eton & Hounslow