28th July 2017

Preview: World Mountain Running Championships (up and down)

On Sunday, Premana in Italy will play host to World Mountain Running Championships (up and down) with the British team fielding a full squad of athletes across the four main races.

After a stunning performance at the European mountain running championships (uphill) earlier this month saw Sarah Tunstall earn the silver medal in the senior women’s race, she will return to the international scene once more hoping to improve upon a fourth place finish at the 2015 edition of these championships.

Rebecca Hilland, Rebecca Robinson and Katie Walshaw (Mike Baxter) add further firepower to a senior women’s quartet who will be pushing the world’s best for a team medal in the Italian mountains.

After a series of top-ten finishes at World and European level over the last few years, Andrew Douglas (Sophie Dunnett) will be looking to continue that consistency and push the leaders this weekend.

He will be joined in the senior men’s squad by trials winner Chris Smith (Philip O’Dell), Graham Gristwood (self-coached) and Joe Steward (Harry Kelly) who competed in Guiyang at the world cross country championships back in 2015.

The fast-improving Scarlet Dale (Colin Gemson) will be raring to go on the world stage after fifth place at the European (uphill) championships at the start of July. After representing the British team for the first time at the 2015 edition of these championships, the Lancaster & Morecambe athlete will be looking to make this contest another memorable one in the junior women’s category.

Welsh athlete Heidi Davies, debutant Annabella McQueen (Steve Livett / Andrew Walling) and Lincoln Wellington’s Bella Williams (Rob Lewis) will also face the 6km course.

Trials winner Chris Richards (Martin Cox) goes alongside Joshua Boyle (James Boyle), Alex Ediker and Nathan Smith (Ian Wilcock) in the junior men’s race. Unfortunately Elliot Matier withdrew from the team so Chesterfield’s Ediker earns his first British vest as a result.

 

The British Athletics team for the World Mountain Running Championships (Up and Down) on 30th July 2017 in Premana, Italy:

Senior men

Andy Douglas (Sophie Dunnett)

Graham Gristwood (Self-coached)

Chris Smith (Philip O’Dell)

Joe Steward (Harry Kelly)

 

Senior women

Rebecca Hilland

Rebecca Robinson

Sarah Tunstall

Katie Walshaw (Mike Baxter)

 

Junior women

Heidi Davies

Scarlet Dale (Colin Gemson)

Annabelle McQueen (Steve Livett / Andrew Walling)

Bella Williams (Rob Lewis)

 

Junior men

Josh Boyle (James Boyle)

Alex Ediker

Chris Richards (Martin Cox)

Nathan Smith (Ian Wilcock)