Ellen for England

Congratulations to 18-year old Ellen Weir, who finished a fantastic fifth and first England athlete home in the U17/U20 race at the Northern Ireland International Cross Country meeting on Saturday, 22 January. The event, which brought a class field to the Billy Neill MBE Country Park, Belfast, also incorporated the World Athletics Silver Cross Country Tour and Celtic Games, as well as the fourth match in the British Athletics Cross Challenge series.

Ellen was selected for the 4-woman U20 team to represent England in the International race over 4000m after she won a bronze medal with the GB U20W team at the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin on 12 December. Following that competition, in which she finished 14th, she took a short break – and also contracted Covid – so her only race coming into the Belfast meeting was at the County Cross Country Championships on 9 January, where she won a silver individual and team medal.

In Belfast Ellen once again ran a shrewd race, working her way steadily through the field over the hilly course to reach and hold fifth position. 'Last week in training was hard after Covid', says dad Andy, who accompanied Ellen to Northern Ireland, 'so she was happy with the result, and felt she was running properly, if lacking a bit in speed'.

Below: with England team mates after the race