( L - R ) Hinds and Talbert - file

Wainard Talbert and Korene Hinds went on to crown themselves 2007 Cross Country champions by winning the respective male and female sections in yesterday's Tru-Juice-sponsored Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) Cross Country Championships in Bog Walk.

Hinds won the senior women's 6K in 20 minutes and 40 seconds. Tanice Barnett was second in 21:34, while Hinds' training partner, Mardrea Hyman, was third in 21:59 and Areita Martin finished fourth in 23:32.

Talbert took the men's 8K event in 25 minutes and 55 seconds, finishing ahead of Kirk Brown (26:01), Jason Saunders (26:03), Damion Bent (26:13), Linton McKenzie (26:20) and Phillip Edwards (26:28) respectively.

Both winners look certain to be selected on JamaicaÕs team to the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships which will take place in Clermont, Florida, on Saturday, March 3.

'Not too disappointed'

Hinds, the national steeplechase champion, said: "The outcome was okay. I felt good, so I can't be too disappointed."

She also spoke about her preparation for the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, saying yesterday's run was geared towards that event.

"It's just a matter of getting a race in. This is my first race of the season. It was to get an idea to see how far I am at in preparation and this tells me a lot - the areas where I have to work on," she continued.

In the junior girls' 4K, Manchester High's Natoya Goule took top honours in 14:14, ahead of Teniesha Davis of Vere (14:20), Neisha Morgan (15:04) and Sherika Dyer (15:08) respectively.

Kemoy Campbell of Bellefield took the junior boys' 6K in 19:00 minutes flat, with Conroy Crossman (19:18) placing second, Antoniel Prince (19:42) third, Ageyan Robinson (19:44) fourth and Wayne McIntyre (19:58) fifth.

The JAAA is soon expected to name the 20-member team comprising six senior men, six junior (Under-20), along with four senior women and four Under-20 girls.

- Anthony Foster