Previews24 Nov 2006


Portuguese battle for spot in National team at Amora International - PREVIEW

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Paulo Guerra finishes second in Amora (© loc)

The birth town of one of the best Portuguese runners, Carla Sacramento, World 1500m champion (1997), Amora, a village in the Seixal county, in the south margin of Tagus River, near to Lisbon, is set to host one of the most famous event of cross country in Portugal, the Amora International Cross Country, EAA permit meetings.

This year, the event will also serve as a final selection for the Portuguese federation to name their representatives at the European Cross Country Championship, an event who means very much for Portuguese athletics.

The main contenders will be Paulo Gomes and Luís Feiteira, members of the Conforlimpa team that won the European Cup for Champions Clubs, in October, in Algarve.

Paulo Gomes was 7th in Oeiras Cross Country, IAAF permit meeting (12 Nov), and Luís Feiteira has achieved the same place at last weekend Cross de Allones, in France, behind Rui Pedro Silva (second, and already selected for the national team), and Paulo Guerra, former European Champion, who is also expected in Amora.

Other international Portuguese runners like Manuel Silva and Manuel Magalhães are expected to line up.

Cristina Casandra heads women's line-up

In the women’s field, the big name will be Cristina Casandra. A former 3000m Steeplechase World record holder and silver medal winner at 5000m at the Under 23 European Championship in 1999, the Romanian is the favourite to win.

But the Portuguese pack will also be strong, with Sandra Teixeira, third in Torres Vedras, after Anália Rosa (selected for the national team, absent in Amora) and Marina Bastos (second in Torres Vedras), both in this race too.

Ana Dias, seventh placed in Oeiras, will also compete leading a group of outsiders which includes Helena Sampaio, Marisa Barros and Mónica Silva.

Alina Ivanova of Russia, former World 10km walk champion (1991), converted to long distance running, 9th in the World half-marathon championship in 2004, is also waited in Amora.

António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF

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