TWO WORLD CHAMPIONS AMONG THOSE SELECTED FOR WORLD LONG DISTANCE MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPS

Two reigning world champions headline the British team set to represent the country at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Villa La Angostura, Argentina on 16 November 2019.

Charlotte Morgan (Carnethy) won the women’s race at the 2018 edition of the championships, becoming the second British woman to win the race in two years following Annie Conway’s success in 2016. Meanwhile, Jonathan Albon was crowned the IAU / ITRA Trail world champion in June, as well as winning team silver, and he leads the men’s squad.

Both will head to Patagonia as part of two strong quartets who will face the world’s best long-distance mountain runners.

Morgan is joined by Victoria Wilkinson (Bingley), who was also part of the world silver medal winning team in 2018. Snowdonia marathon – which also acted as the trials for this championship – winner Kirsteen Welch (Norman Wilson; Sidmouth), and Sara Willhoit (Shrewsbury), earn their maiden call-ups to a GB & NI team.

In the men’s team, Albon will be joined by winner of the trials, Nick Swinburn (Lindsay Dunn; Morpeth), the 2009 world mountain running silver medallist. Seb Batchelor (City of York) earns a call-up to his third British team of the year following the European mountain running championships and trail worlds, as does Tom Evans (Allison Benton; Lewes), last year’s IAU / ITRA Trail world championships bronze medallist.

Team Leader, Anne Buckley, said:

“I’m really pleased that we have selected eight athletes to represent the country at this challenging championship in Patagonia. We have seen some really encouraging performances over the long distances in mountain running this year, so we have plenty of depth in the teams.

“We have experienced members of the team who have won individual and team medals for GB & NI in the past, and it is great to welcome Kirsteen and Sara into the team for the first time.”

The British team for the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Villa La Angostura, Argentina on 16 November 2019:

Senior Women:

Charlotte Morgan (Carnethy)

Kirsteen Welch (Norman Wilson; Sidmouth)

Victoria Wilkinson (Bingley)

Sara Willhoit (Shrewsbury)

Senior Men:

Jonathan Albon

Sebastian Batchelor (City of York)

Tom Evans (Allison Benton; Lewes)

Nick Swinburn (Lindsay Dunn; Morpeth)