Benita Johnson takes historic win for Australia - women's long race (© Getty Images)
Craig Mottram and Benita Johnson headline the 22-member team that will compete at the 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland on 30 March 2008.
And in an exciting coup, Sonia O’Sullivan, who won the long and short course double for Ireland at the championships in Marrakech in 1998, has been appointed team coach.
Experienced campaigners Mottram (Vic), Johnson (Vic), Anna Thompson (Vic) and Martin Dent (ACT) will all be making their seventh appearance at this year’s edition of the Championships.
Johnson is Australia’s sole gold medallist in World Cross history after her triumph in the long course in 2004. The 28-year-old, who is putting her hand up for marathon selection in Beijing, has finished in the top ten on six occasions. She joined with Thompson, Melissa Rollison, Donna MacFarlane, Victoria Mitchell and Eloise Wellings to claim an historic team bronze medal in Fukuoka, Japan in 2006 – four members of which will return in 2008.
Mottram, who will contest the 5000m at the Olympic Games in August, will aim to better his fifth placing earned over the short course in Dublin in 2002.
Victorious Victorians Collis Birmingham and Lisa-Jane Weightman were impressive at the trials held in Canberra last Saturday, and will also put in a strong show in Edinburgh.
Team Australia
36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, 30 March 2008
Men (12km): Liam Adams (Vic), Collis Birmingham (Vic), Martin Dent (ACT), Andrew Letherby (Vic), David McNeill (Vic), Craig Mottram (Vic), Ben St Lawrence (NSW), Michael Shelley (Qld)
Women (8km): Benita Johnson (Vic), Victoria Mitchell (Vic), Melissa Rollison (QLD), Anna Thompson (Vic), Melinda Vernon (NSW), Lisa Jane Weightman (Vic)
Junior Men (8km): Richard Everest (SA), Ryan Gregson (NSW), Ashley Watson (Vic), Duer Yoa (Vic)
Junior Women (6km): Emily Brichacek (ACT), Tamara Carvolth (QLD), Elise Clayton (Vic), Alexis McKillop (NSW)
