Portuguese Woman Takes On East Africans In Scotland

The reigning European Cross-Country champion has high hopes for this Saturday.

At the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country event this weekend one European woman should stand out from the thick crowd of East Africans: Jessica Augusto. Augusto, 29, is the current European cross-country champion. She won that event, which was held in her home country of Portugal. Augusto has recently arrived in Edinburgh to prepare for her big race.

“Track and field isn’t quite as popular as football here,” she said of Scotland and of her recent victory at the European cross-country championships. “But the reaction from the Portuguese crowd was fantastic. Because it was live on TV, I felt that people knew who I was afterwards, asking for autographs, sending me e-mails, and getting in touch on Facebook. It was great.”

Augusto is facing stiff competition next Saturday from the likes of Vivian Cheruiyot, Milcah Chemos, and Linet Masai–all Kenyans.

“The Kenyans will be strong,” she admits. “But I feel good. I won last week, in Lisbon, Madrid and Madeira. I think I can challenge the Kenyans.”

For More: Scotland Sunday