Eurocross
Encyclopedia
Eurocross is an annual international cross country running
competition which takes place in Diekirch
, Luxembourg
in February. It is one of the IAAF permit meetings which serve as qualifying events for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
.
First held in 1969, Eurocross is organised by the local athletics club (Celtic) and the course follows near the Stade Municipal in Diekirch. There are two major races: a 10.2 km race for men and a 5.3 km race for women. In addition to these primary competitions, there are races for runners of various youth levels, as well as a popular, mass race for amateurs.
The course follows a steep incline up a hill on a stepped dirt path, which then loops back on to downhill section. The race takes place over a number of laps thus the uphill and downhill sections can make for a particularly difficult cross country course.
The main races typically attract international-calibre athletes from Europe and Africa. Past men's winners include IAAF World Cross Country Championships
medallist Josephat Machuka
and European Championships
medallists Mustafa Mohamed
and Carsten Jørgensen
. The women's side has featured Gabriela Szabo
(an Olympic and world champion), 1993 World Cross Country champion Albertina Dias
and Dorcus Inzikuru
, a steeplechase
world champion. The Eurocross typically gives out over US $12,500 in total prize money for each meeting.
The 2010 race, which was the 40th edition of the competition, was held simultaneously with the 94th Luxembourg national cross country championships.
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
competition which takes place in Diekirch
Diekirch
Diekirch is a commune with city status in north-eastern Luxembourg, capital city of the canton Diekirch and the district of Diekirch. The city is situated on the banks of the Sauer river....
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
in February. It is one of the IAAF permit meetings which serve as qualifying events for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
.
First held in 1969, Eurocross is organised by the local athletics club (Celtic) and the course follows near the Stade Municipal in Diekirch. There are two major races: a 10.2 km race for men and a 5.3 km race for women. In addition to these primary competitions, there are races for runners of various youth levels, as well as a popular, mass race for amateurs.
The course follows a steep incline up a hill on a stepped dirt path, which then loops back on to downhill section. The race takes place over a number of laps thus the uphill and downhill sections can make for a particularly difficult cross country course.
The main races typically attract international-calibre athletes from Europe and Africa. Past men's winners include IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations , it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships...
medallist Josephat Machuka
Josephat Machuka
Josephat Machuka is a runner from Kenya. He won IAAF World Cross Country Championships junior bronze medal in 1992 and 1993...
and European Championships
European Cross Country Championships
The European Cross Country Championships is an annual international cross country running competition. Organised by the European Athletic Association, it is the area championships for the region and is held in December each year...
medallists Mustafa Mohamed
Mustafa Mohamed
Mustafa Hassan Mohamed is a Somali-Swedish long-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 meter steeplechase.-Biography:Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Mohamed moved to Sweden at the age of 11...
and Carsten Jørgensen
Carsten Jørgensen
Carsten Jørgensen is a Danish orienteering competitor and World champion. He won a gold medal in the 1997 World Orienteering Championships in Grimstad with the Danish Relay team. He received a bronze medal in the 1995 World Orienteering Championships in Detmold .He has been quite successful in...
. The women's side has featured Gabriela Szabo
Gabriela Szabo
Gabriela Szabo is a Romanian track and field athlete, winner of the gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics in 5000 m and winner of bronze and silver medals in 1996 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics in 1500 m, respectively....
(an Olympic and world champion), 1993 World Cross Country champion Albertina Dias
Albertina Dias
Maria Albertina da Costa Dias Pereira is a former Portuguese long-distance runner. She competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics for her native country, starting in 1988...
and Dorcus Inzikuru
Dorcus Inzikuru
Dorcus Inzikuru is a Ugandan athlete competing in steeplechase. She won the inaugural World title in women's 3000 m steeplechase, as well as the first Commonwealth title in the event. Her coach is Renato Canova. Sometimes her name is spelt "Docus"...
, a steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
world champion. The Eurocross typically gives out over US $12,500 in total prize money for each meeting.
The 2010 race, which was the 40th edition of the competition, was held simultaneously with the 94th Luxembourg national cross country championships.
Past senior race winners
Key:- Note: The women's course was shorter than the typical 5.3 km between 1990 and 2005.
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
Women's winner | Time (m Minute A minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units... :s Second The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1969 | ? | — | — | |
| 2nd | 1970 | ? | — | — | |
| — | 1971 | Not held | — | — | — |
| 3rd | 1972 | ? | — | — | |
| 4th | 1973 | ? | — | — | |
| — | 1974 | Not held | — | — | — |
| 5th | 1975 | ? | — | — | |
| 6th | 1976 | ? | — | — | |
| 7th | 1977 | ? | — | — | |
| 8th | 1978 | ? | — | — | |
| 9th | 1979 | ? | ? | ||
| 10th | 1980 | ? | ? | ||
| 11th | 1981 | ? | ? | ? | |
| 12th | 1982 | ? | ? | ||
| 13th | 1983 | ? | ? | ||
| 14th | 1984 | ? | ? | ? | |
| 15th | 1985 | ? | ? | ? | |
| 16th | 1986 | ? | ? | ||
| 17th | 1987 | ? | ? | ? | |
| 18th | 1988 | 32:48 | ? | ||
| 19th | 1989 | ? | ? | ? | |
| 20th | 1990 | 31:31 | 16:55 | ||
| 21st | 1991 | ? | ? | ||
| 22nd | 1992 | 32:33 | 16:59 | ||
| 23rd | 1993 | 31:27 | 16:45 | ||
| 24th | 1994 | 30:51 | 15:54 | ||
| 25th | 1995 | 33:09 | 16:53 | ||
| 26th | 1996 | 31:57 | 16:16 | ||
| 27th | 1997 | 30:41 | 15:50 | ||
| 28th | 1998 | 30:27 | 16:00 | ||
| 29th | 1999 | 31:50 | 16:40 | ||
| 30th | 2000 | 30:18 | 16:12 | ||
| 31st | 2001 | 30:25 | 15:56 | ||
| 32nd | 2002 | 30:52 | 16:04 | ||
| 33rd | 2003 | 29:56 | 15:54 | ||
| 34th | 2004 | 30:34 | 15:41 | ||
| 35th | 2005 | 32:06 | 17:09 | ||
| 36th | 2006 | 30:47 | 18:24 | ||
| 37th | 2007 | 32:03 | 18:44 | ||
| 38th | 2008 | 29:23 | 17:21 | ||
| 39th | 2009 | 30:27 | 18:23 | ||
| 40th | 2010 | 27:17 | 17:03 | ||
| 41st | 2011 | 31:27.1 | 19:03.8 |
External links
- Past medallists from Celtic Diekirch website