NORTH EAST SENIOR TEAMS FORCED INTO MAKING CHANGES FOR INTER COUNTIES CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS AND WORLD TRIALS

The North East has been forced to make two changes to their senior teams for Saturday’s Inter Counties Cross Country Championships and World Trials at Loughborough, also on Saturday.

Former Sunderland Harrier Jack Martin has withdrawn from the men’s team following his superb seventh position in last week’s English National Cross Country Championships at Nottingham.

He was expected to lead the team, who go for a record-breaking seventh win in-a-row at Prestwold Hall.

North East Senior Teams Forced Into Making Changes For Inter Counties Cross Country Championships And World Trials.

Martin, who has kept his allegiance to the North East despite living in Manchester, is looking to step up to the marathon and is eyeing the Amsterdam Marathon in October.

He said: “I have had a calf and foot issue since winning the Alsager 5 last month and Dave (Turnbull – his coach) wants me to give it some rest and rehab.

“My plan is to have a track season up until the end of June, take a little rest and then build up to Amsterdam.”

Martin’s absence will be a big blow for the North East, but such is the strength of the squad that they will still be a threat to all and Lancashire’s record is still a target.

Durham City Harrier and tri-athlete Dan Jenkin replaces Martin in the nine-man team.

The senior men’s team is: Johnny Taylor, Nick Swinburn, Carl Avery (all Morpeth), Dan Garbutt, Dan Jenkin (Durham), Phil Wylie (Cheltenham), Andy Burn (Jarrow and Hebburn), Calum Johnson (Gateshead) and Greg Jaysuriya (Middlesbrough) ....

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