WHO can beat Jay Donawa? Well to be honest no one in Bermuda when it comes to the cross country.Donawa will be going for his seventh consecutive national cross country title on Saturday at the Botanical Gardens. Already this year he has won four of the six cross country races in the series — and in the other two he was aboard competing in half marathons.

“Cross country is my first love,” said Donawa this week ahead of the national championships which get underway at 8:30 a.m.

“It really is my passion. After cross country I love the track and then road running. I just love the terrain and running on the grass — the off-road elements which make cross country special. I think I just am blessed to be able to run well on grass well. Running cross country can be a neutraliser. Some runners do not like it but I find that I am at my best — it is my comfort zone.”

Donawa said he expects the course to be just over seven miles — about seven times around the loop at the Botanical Gardens.

“It does take strength to run the cross country,” he said adding that if it rains the course gets even harder.

“But that is all part of it — I just put my head down and keep going,” he said.

If, and when he wins on Saturday, Donawa is hoping that he will go to the NACAC (North American and Central American and Caribbean Championships) which will be staged in Clermont, Florida next March.

“I hope my performance will warrant it,” he said.

The last two years he has competed in the NACAC Championships and this time he would love to see other Bermudians join him.

“It would be great if we could get people like Lamont Marshall, his brother and anyone else to come and race. It takes four to make a team and the cross country is a team event at these championships. In 2001 we had a team and it does make a difference.”

Saturday morning’s national championships are for all ages — from under 10 boys and girls to men and women over 50 years old. The course ranges from two miles to over seven.

The prize giving for the cross country series and national championships will be held at Cathedral Hall next Thursday from 4:00 p.m.

[obox] The KPMG Front Street Mile trials will be held on December 9 and 10 at the National Sports Centre. Entry forms are available at the island’s sports shops and at the BTFA offices.