28th November 2011 11:27
This winter's European Athletics Cross Country Permit Races got off to a flying start with the opening event at the Skanzen Museum in Szentendre, just outside the Hungarian capital Budapest, on Saturday.
The races, which also combined the Hungarian cross country championships, were a test event for the 2012 SPAR European Cross Country Championships which will be held at the same venue on December 9 next year.
Marathon runner Tamas Kovács won the men's title over 8.675 km in 27:35 with Sandor Szabo, still only 20 and the eighth man home in last year's SPAR European Cross country Championships, second in 27:46 and Adam Kovacs third in 27:52.
“I read some news items before the competition in which I was not among the favourites and I was a bit upset,” joked the winner after the race, which featured windy and cold but dry conditions. “I wanted to show everybody that I'm in good shape.”
“I'd like to finish higher at this year's European Cross Country Championships even though I'll be in my first year as an under 23 runner. My coach expects it,” added Szabo.
Former SPAR European Cross Country Championships junior and under 23 gold medallist Barnabas Bené was expected to feature in the top three but pulled out after 5km with Achilles problems.
Monika Nagy won the women's title, covering the 6.08km course in 21:59. “I am surprised about winning, although I tho0ught the podium was possible as I'm preparing for a marathon,” reflected Nagy.
She finished more than half a minute in front of Andrea Szederkenyi-Takacs, who was second in 22:36, while Reka Czebei was third in 22:57.
The leading runners will pull on Hungarian vests and contest the 2011 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Velenje, Slovenia, on 11 December.
The races, which also combined the Hungarian cross country championships, were a test event for the 2012 SPAR European Cross Country Championships which will be held at the same venue on December 9 next year.
Marathon runner Tamas Kovács won the men's title over 8.675 km in 27:35 with Sandor Szabo, still only 20 and the eighth man home in last year's SPAR European Cross country Championships, second in 27:46 and Adam Kovacs third in 27:52.
“I read some news items before the competition in which I was not among the favourites and I was a bit upset,” joked the winner after the race, which featured windy and cold but dry conditions. “I wanted to show everybody that I'm in good shape.”
“I'd like to finish higher at this year's European Cross Country Championships even though I'll be in my first year as an under 23 runner. My coach expects it,” added Szabo.
Former SPAR European Cross Country Championships junior and under 23 gold medallist Barnabas Bené was expected to feature in the top three but pulled out after 5km with Achilles problems.
Monika Nagy won the women's title, covering the 6.08km course in 21:59. “I am surprised about winning, although I tho0ught the podium was possible as I'm preparing for a marathon,” reflected Nagy.
She finished more than half a minute in front of Andrea Szederkenyi-Takacs, who was second in 22:36, while Reka Czebei was third in 22:57.
The leading runners will pull on Hungarian vests and contest the 2011 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Velenje, Slovenia, on 11 December.