28th October 2016

British Team Gears Up For World Trail Running Championships

A 11-strong British team will head to Geres, Portgual, for tomorrow’s (29 Oct) IAU World Trail Running Championships.

Tom Owens heads up the team after narrowly missing out on a podium place in the individual event last year in Annecy, France. He recorded a time of 8:23.26, but played an important part in securing the bronze medal in the team event. The 34 year old, who placed an impressive fourth at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships back in June, will be determined to get amongst the medals this time around on the 85km undulating course featuring 4500m of climbing. 

Joining Owens in the senior men’s team is Edinburgh-based Donnie Campbell, who broke the course record by eleven minutes on route to winning the Hoka Highland Fling Race, which doubled up as the British trials. He recorded a time of 6:51:06, with Damien Hall and 2014 UK trail champion Kim Collison taking second and third respectively. Andy Symonds and Tom Payne complete the men’s line up for the championships.

Owens was not alone in his record-breaking feats, with Beth Pascall entering herself into the record books breaking the course record that stood since 2008. Pascall’s time of 7:52:55 secured her first place in the Trials, where she finished ahead of Sally Fawcett, who secured the second automatic spot in 8:14.16. Sophie Grant, the third automatic place was just under a minute behind with the 32 year old finishing in 8:15.04.

Jo Zakrzewski will bring a wealth of distance running experience to the team which includes a 14th place finish in the marathon at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where she flew the flag for Scotland. Jo Meek, fourth at the IAU World 100K World Championships in 2014, will also bring her big stage experience to the senior women’s team.

The full British Athletics team for the IAU World Trail Running Championships, Geres, Portugal, Saturday 29 October:  

Senior Men

Donnie Campbell

Kim Collison

Damien Hall

Tom Payne

Tom Owens

Andy Symonds

 

 

Senior Women

Sally Fawcett

Sophie Grant

Jo Meek

Beth Pascall

Jo Zakrzewski