2010 News
- News Archive
European Cross Country Championships Success
EPACC athletes from St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, competed at the European Cross Country Championships in Albufeira, Portugal at the weekend.
St Mary’s History Undergraduate Charlotte Purdue took gold in the junior race with a massive winning margin of 17 seconds. After the race she said “I am really pleased with my performance as it's my last year to run as a junior - I am glad to finally get gold after previously finishing third and second, and missing last year through injury."
EPACC athlete Emelia Gorecka also finished on the podium with a superb bronze medal at only 16 years of age and Georgia Peel finished in 27th.
The EPACC had four representatives in the junior men’s race who all performed well to take team gold. St Mary’s undergraduate Ryan Saunders was the first GB finisher in 10th place after a remarkable recovery from being tripped at the start of the race. Current undergraduates John McDonnell and Andy Combs took 16th and 22nd place respectively.
In the U23 women’s race an individual medallist Emma Pallant finished in the bronze medal position to win her first major individual cross country medal and lead GB to another team gold. Emma said “I’m really pleased to have medalled because that was Mick’s (EPACC coach Mick Woods) and my goal. I’m so grateful for the continuous support for me and Mick from St Mary’s as these successes wouldn’t be possible without it.”
Also competing were St Mary’s graduates Stephanie Twell who came 20th and Hayley Yelling-Higham who took 28th place to win team silver medals in the senior women’s race. Former St Mary’s student Mitch Goose took 22nd place and current undergraduate Ashley Harrell 68th in the U23 men’s race. Former St Mary’s student Mark Draper came 37th in the senior men’s competition.
Overall the EPACC had fourteen athletes at the championships and GB topped the medal table for the third consecutive year.
