FORMER North-East cross country champions Mark Hood and Patrick Martin return to action after injury tomorrow as Sunderland Harriers defend the senior men’s title they won in 2009 at the Durham Cathedral Relays.
The popular event fell victim to the weather last year but a bumper turn-out is expected on the banks of the River Wear as the region’s athletics calendar continues to get back to normal after a series of disruptions over the past two months.
Hood, who won the North- East individual title for three years in succession before an ankle injury sustained in the Great North Run forced him to miss out in 2009, when he handed over the trophy to clubmate Martin, has recovered from flu.
The Wearsiders, however, will be without the third member of their winning team, Gavin Massingham, who is injured, and are likely to call up the evergreen British Master Cross Country champion, Brian Rushworth.
Sunderland’s main rivals are expected to be newlycrowned North-East cross country team champions Morpeth Harriers, while 2008 Cathedral Relays winners New Marske have a strong young squad.
Chester-le-Street have lost some of their leading athletes since winning the women’s team title in 2009, but the Cestrians have strength in depth as they face challenges from North-East champions Morpeth and North-East Harrier League title-holders Heaton Harriers.
The relays also incorporate the North-East Veterans Cross Country Relay Championships, with races for over- 40s, over 45s and over 55s.
The programme tomorrow is: 10.15am Veteran Men; 1055 Senior/veteran women; 11.35 Senior Men.
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