Team GB & NI Win Gold at European Cross Country Championships

Athletes from the Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre (EPACC) at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham helped team GB and NI top the medal table at the European Cross Country Championships. The Great Britain squad won a total of nine medals, double than its closest competitors, which consisted of five gold, one silver and three bronze medals. France came second with four medals and Spain took third place with three medals. Great Britain gained gold medals in the Junior Women’s, Under 23 Women’s, Under 23 Men’s and Senior Women’s categories. The first win of the competition was the Junior Women’s race, with Emelia Gorecka getting an individual win for first place. Charlotte Purdue came third in the Under 23 Women’s race, where all six members of the team finished in the top 16 out of 61 competitors. The Under 23 Men’s group missed out on individual podium wins but took gold as a team. Team GB and NI came fourth in the Junior Men’s category and third in the Senior Men’s category where Andy Vernon won a bronze medal. Andrew Reid-Smith, Director of Sport at St Mary's, said, "The GB and NI team produced some excellent performances in Belgrade with St Mary’s EPACC athletes making a significant contribution.  In the senior men’s race Andy Vernon finished incredibly strongly and it was great to see him grab a well-deserved podium position."