Kate and Ricky can fly the flag (From The Northern Echo)

Kate and Ricky can fly the flag

9:47am Saturday 27th February 2010 in

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WITH many of the region’s top runners missing from the English National Cross Country Championships it will be left to younger athletes to fly the flag in Leeds today.

New Marske’s fast-rising international Ricky Stevenson, a surprise winner in last month’s Great Edinburgh Cross Country International, could be the North-East’s leading contender in the senior men’s race, despite being only 21.

Shildon’s European Junior Cross Country Championships bronze medallist Kate Avery could add to her impressive achievements in the under-20 event.

Notable absentees at Roundhay Park include leading Sunderland Harriers Patrick Martin, winner of the regional championship at Darlington in December, and threetimes North-East gold medallist Mark Hood, who are both injured.

Chester-le-Street, usually the region’s leading contenders in the women’s race, are represented by only one athlete, Tracy Laws.

Clubmates Freya Murray, Alyson Dixon, Emma Raven and Maxine Czarnecka competed in last weekend’s Scottish Championships in Falkirk.

Stevenson, who missed last year’s junior championships at Parliament Hill because of an administrative slip-up, is rapidly becoming established as one of Great Britain’s most exciting young middle-distance runners.

He added to his growing reputation by finishing runner-up to Andy Baddeley in the New York Indoor Mile last month.

Avery is also regarded as a brilliant prospect on the track and over the country.

Last weekend she won a 4.6K junior women’s race in the Lotto Crosscup at Hannut, Belgium, while last year at Parliament Hill she was runner-up in the under- 17 race.

Over 8,000 entries have been received for today’s 10- race programme, including 300 from 30 North-East clubs.

The region’s last North- East winner of the senior men’s race was Michael Openshaw, wearing the colours of Birchfield Harriers when the championships were held at Durham in 2001.