UKA: ALBON LEADS A TRIO OF BRONZE MEDALS IN TRAIL RACES AT THE WORLD CHAMPS
There were more medals for Great Britain and Northern Ireland on day two of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, as Jon Albon (Isfjorden IL) secured individual bronze in the men’s short trail race, and both the men’s and women’s teams bagged bronze medals over the distance.
Albon produced an exceptional display over the 40km course as he completed the race in the Chiang Mai hills in a time of 3:13:05, over four minutes ahead of fourth position.
He was backed up by a superb display from Kristian Jones (Swansea) who, in his first international trail race, secured fifth position overall in 3:17:47. GB & NI’s third counter was Billy Cartwright (Matlock) who was 25th in 3:36:26, which ultimately earned the men’s team world bronze.
Brennan Townshend (Keswick) and Tom Adams (self-coached, Ilkley) were the fourth and fifth GB & NI athletes across the line in 42nd and 46th respectively. Townshend recorded 3:46:48 while Adams crossed the line in 3:54:21.
Italy secured the team gold ahead of France, but with a cumulative time of 10:07:18, GB & NI comfortably won team bronze to add to the nation’s tally overall. Norway’s Stian Hovind Andermund won the race in 3 hours, eight minutes and 29 seconds.
In the senior women’s short trail race, there were several excellent performances as Great Britain and Northern Ireland won their third bronze medal of the day.
Elsey Davis (self-coached, Preston) and Sharon Taylor (Helm Hill) delivered arguably one of the best performances of their careers as they finished inside the top ten. Davis was eighth in 3:58:06, while Taylor was one position further back in a time of 4:01:27.
With third counter Nichola Jackson (Billy Cartwright, Keswick) in 18th in 4:10:59, the team bronze was secured as they sat behind only Spain and USA in the standings. Catriona Graves (Tracey Brindley, Highland Hill Runners) was the fourth Brit across the line in a time of 4:16:21. Romania’s Denisa Ionela Dragomir was triumphant in a time of 3:49:23.
In the long trail race, GB & NI’s representatives battled a tough 80km course in Thailand.
In the men’s race, the British trio of Harry Jones (Martin Cox, Mynyddwyr De Cymru), George Foster (Martin Cox, Matlock AC) and Ryan Smith (self-coached, Rocky Mountain Runners) ended the event in eighth position overall in the team standings.
Jones was narrowly outside the top 10 in a very strong 11th place, reaching the finish line in a time of 7:54:10. Foster and Smith were 34th and 39th respectively, their times clocking in at 8:34:19 and 8:38:38.
Meanwhile, the British duo in the women’s long trail race were 29th and 34th respectively.
Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn (self-coached, Keswick) completed the 80km course in 9:47:35, while Meryl Cooper (David Roche, Deeside Runners) posted 10:21:34.
The Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team medal tally
Silver (1): Senior Women’s Team – Uphill only
Bronze (3): Jon Albon – Men’s Short Trail Race; Senior Men’s Team – Short Trail Race; Senior Women’s Team – Short Trail Race
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*Photo credit: Jacob Adkin