A third GB vest and a trip to Antalya in the south west of Turkey was the reward for Harriers Lizzie Wellsted, after qualifying to represent Great Britain at the Thirtieth European Cross Country Championships.

Course conditions were vastly different to that of a ‘typical’ UK cross country course. Being situated on land which is in the process of being developed, it was mostly ‘man-made.’ Features such as staggered log jumps, mini-fences, hilly mounds, sand, and a short muddy section were created to add difficulty.

Lizzie unfortunately had a few curve balls thrown at her on race week. Picking up an untimely calf strain and then a cold, meant she had to reevaluate her race expectations. Despite running with discomfort, she did her team job and finished eighteenth overall out of the ninety-two competitors in her under twenty’s race. A tremendous effort from all the GB under twenty women saw Great Britain easily defend their Team Gold from last year. The unstoppable Innes Fitzgerald and Jess Bailey led the charge by taking first and second in the race.

Lizzie was naturally disappointed that the injury did not allow her to show her true form as displayed in the trial race two weeks earlier. However, toughing it out to finish eighteenth individual in Europe, and to contribute to a team winning performance is a superb result, with more international experience banked.

We are all very proud of Lizzie and hope she is back next year in Portugal for a final shot at the Under Twenty European Cross Country Championships, before moving up into the Under Twenty Three age group.