Successful Winter Season for St Mary’s Athletes

Athletes and alumni from the Endurance Performance Centre (EPC) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham saw a successful winter season, competing indoors, cross country and on the road.

At the World Cross Country Championships, hosted in Australia, current student Joe Wigfield competed in the men’s relay event for Team GB, finishing in sixth place overall, and the first placed European team. EPC athletes also saw success at the English National Cross Country Championships. In the Women’s Senior Race, Alumna Sarah Astin won the Gold Medal, with EPC Associate Rebecca Murray finishing in fifth place. In the women’s U20 race, current student Megan Gadsby finished in the Silver Medal position, with fellow student Kirsten Stillwell finishing in eight.

Elsewhere in Cross Country, the EPC saw four teams compete. At the British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) Cross Country Championships The Men’s Long Course team came fifth, with Joe Wigfield winning the Bronze medal, the Women’s Long Course team finished 6^th, the Women’s Short Course team won the Bronze Medal, and the Men’s Short Course Team finished just outside the medals in fourth.

At the UK Indoor Championships, alumnus Blake Moore claimed his first senior champion medal as he took the Bronze in the Men’s 1500m. Blake was joined in the race by current student Olly Lill, who finished in seventh as he made his senior championship debut. In the Men’s 3000m, current student Henry McLuckie finished in fourth place. Jack Rowe also competed in the Men’s 3000m, unfortunately being disqualified, but he went on to compete at the European Indoor Athletics Championships, finishing 9^th in the final. Elsewhere, Alumna Adelle Tracey set a national record for Jamaica as came third in the Women’s Mile race at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold, ORLEN Copernicus Cup in a time of 4:30.17.

A number of students competed at the BUCS Indoor Championships, with Jade Spencer-Smith winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s Pole Vault. EPC athletes also saw success at the championships with Henry McLuckie won the Silver Medal in the Men’s 3000m race. Elliot Pocock came in fourth place in the men’s 1500m final and Shaun Gee came in sixth place in the men’s 800m final. Juliet Hodder and Mia Waldmann competed in the Women’s 3000m, coming in sixth and ninth respectively.

On the road, alumnus Emile Cairess set a new 10-mile European record of 45:57 at Barrowford, Lancashire. Elsewhere three alumni competed at the HOKA London Winter Run. Ellis Cross won the race in a time of 28:54, Thomas Randolf came in fourth and Steph Twell finished at the second placed woman and eight overall. At the Brooks Armagh International 5k, regarded as one of the best 5k road races in the world, current student Henry McLuckie set a course record of 13:37 as he won the race.

Speaking of the Winter Season, EPC Performance Coach Craig Winrow said, “There has been some great performances over the winter months on various surfaces which highlights the array of talent the EPC has. The athletes will be looking forward to continuing this success in the summer months.”