Emily Thompson finished an excellent 6th in the first race of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series, held in Liverpool last Saturday. For the older age groups the event doubled up as the GB trials for the European Cross Country Championships in Bulgaria later this month and all of the top names in British cross-country running were in attendance, with the top 4 in each race being selected for the GB team.
At U15 level, it was just pride at stake and early points in a series which goes next to Cardiff and Milton Keynes, before culminating in Birmingham next March. The 3km course around Liverpool's Sefton Park was deceptively tricky with a heavy surface, twists and slopes adding to the challenge. From the gun, Thompson swiftly joined the leading pack and shared the lead after the first kilometre. A mid-race surge took five girls away from her, including the eventual top two of Erin Wallace, from Scotland, and Grace Copeland of Dorset. Thompson finished quickly, though, keeping the rest of the 90-strong field behind her to complete the race in a fast time of 11minutes 12seconds. Finishing in 6th position in a national field confirmed the enormous progress she has made so far this season under the coaching of Banbury Harriers' Ros Kelling.
Thank you to Richard Thompson
