28th January 2019

WORLD CHAMPIONS AND RECORD BREAKERS MAKE UP THE TEAM FOR THE IAU / ITRA TRAIL WORLD CHAMPS

British Athletics has today announced a full team of 12 athletes selected to represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the IAU / ITRA Trail World Championship in Mirandha do Corvo, Portugal on Saturday 8 June 2019.

World Long Distance Mountain Running champion Charlotte Morgan (club: Carnethy) takes her place in the women’s team. Her landmark victory last year coupled with some standout results on the trail terrain in recent months – including a second-place finish at the high class Barbudo Trail event in Spain – earns her selection.

Jasmin Paris (Carnethy) – who recently hit the headlines after outright winning the Spine Race covering a 268-mile distance from the Peak District to the South Scottish Borders – is also selected. Her finishing time in that race beat the outright course record by over 12 hours and brought worldwide acclaim. She will earn her first British vest at these championships.

Holly Page (Calder Valley), the highest-placed British finisher at the 2018 edition of these championships, and Jo Meek (Winchester), who was the leading female Briton at the 2017 and 2016 championships, Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn (Keswick) and Georgia Tindley (Hunters Bog Trotters) complete the women’s team who will be one of the leading countries pushing for medals.

Ultra-Skyrunning world champion Jon Albon finished fourth at last year’s Trail World Championships in Spain, so he will have his eyes on making the podium this summer.

2013 IAU world ultra-trail champion Ricky Lightfoot (Ellenborough) earns another British vest, while Andrew Davies (Steve Vernon, Stockport) – who competed at both the Commonwealth Games marathon and a long-distance mountain marathon in 2018 – also join the men’s cohort.

Seb Batchelor, Carl Bell (Keswick) and Andy Symonds (Kendal) join the trio in the British squad in Mirandha do Corvo.

Team Leader Adrian Stott, commented post-selection:

“The strength in depth of mountain and trail running in the UK just now is apparent in the strong men’s and women’s teams selected. The British team has traditionally competed well and come home with team medals from these championships. We are sure our team will again be a match to challenge the leading nations like Spain, Italy France and the USA.

“The fact it is a relatively short, but technical 45km course for this year’s ultra-trail championship, has been reflected in the selection with a mix of experienced ultra-runners and long distance fell runners. well suited to doing well in June.”

 

The British team for the IAU / ITRA Trail World Championship in Mirandha do Corvo, Portugal on Saturday 8 June 2019:

Senior Women:

Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn (Keswick)

Jo Meek (Winchester)

Charlotte Morgan (Carnethy)

Holly Page (Calder Valley)

Jasmin Paris (Carnethy)

Georgia Tindley (Hunters Bog Trotters)

 

Senior Men:

Jon Albon

Seb Batchelor

Carl Bell (Keswick)

Andrew Davies (Steve Vernon, Stockport)

Ricky Lightfoot (Ellenborough)

Andy Symonds (Trail Vaucluse)