POSTED: Monday December 15th 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GB WOMEN CLEAN SWEEP

The Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland Junior Women’s Team filled the first six places in the junior women’s race

The Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland Junior Women’s Team produced an unprecedented performance at Sunday’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships, filling the first six places in the junior women’s race, led by individual gold medallist Stephanie Twell (Aldershot, Farnham & District). Twell’s victory, in her last international as a junior was the third successive time she has won this title, another unprecedented achievement.

Twell’s training partner Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot, Farnham & District) too silver improving from bronze at last year’s championships, whilst Lauren Howarth (Leigh Harriers) took a surprise bronze. Emily Pidgeon was 4th, Emma Pallant (Aldershot, Farnham & District) 5th and Laura Park (Ellenborough AC) 6th in a field of 81 of the continent’s premier runners.

 
Afterwards. Twell said: “I’m just so elated. It is a testament to my coach Mick Woods and my training partners. This medal is not just for me, it is for all them. I wasn’t expecting it to go off as hard as it did. The mud was flying everywhere at the start. I don’t really feel pressure. It’s more the expectation I place on myself. I always want more from myself. Winning never makes it easier.”

Purdue said :”I was hoping for gold. It’s one place better than last year. So next year I will be going for gold and the year after that! There were no team team tactics. I couldn’t believe it at the finish when I looked around and all the girls came in one after the other. This is a good stepping stone to the worlds.”

Howarth said :”It’s a total shock. I was hoping for top 10. I was a lot stronger than I thought.”

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Keywords · UK Athletics · Norwich Union Great Britain · Northern Ireland Junior Women’s Team

Name: Chris Broadbent
Organization: UK Athletics
Email:
Phone: +44.7701.099763

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