Rhona Auckland produced a superb performance to help Great Britain win team gold when she finished seventh in the under-23 women’s race in the European cross-country championships in Belgrade yesterday.
The Banchory Stonehaven AC athlete completed the 6km course in 20min 25sec while Sifan Hassan (Netherlands) won in 19:40, with Serbia’s Amela Terzic finishing six seconds behind in second position.
Charlotte Purdue led the British charge by finishing third in 19:49. Kate Avery was fourth in 19:56, Lily Partridge took fifth in 20:10 and Auckland was seventh in 20;25.
The forecast was for snow in the Serbian capital but that never materialised and, although it was cold, the conditions underfoot on the fast and flat grassland course were good.
Auckland ran a tactically astute race by starting off sensibly and working her way through the field.
She was 28th at the end of the first of the four 1.5km laps, moved up to 12th by halfway, then eighth at 4.5km before gaining one more position on the final circuit.
Auckland, who had strong vocal support around the course from her mum Pam, dad Bob and coaches Ken and Joyce Hogg, was delighted with the outcome.
She said: “I am thrilled. It was brilliant that all six of us finished inside the top 16 positions.”
It is Auckland’s second gold medal in the European championships. Last year she was part of the British side which won team gold in the under-20 age group.
Ken Hogg said: “It was a great run by Rhona and it will give her even more confidence.
“She was almost overcome with excitement when we saw her at the finish line and it has been a great experience for her.”
Another Scot, Kilbarchan’s Callum Hawkins, picked up a gold medal when helping Great Britain’s under-23 men’s side win its team competition.
Luke Caldwell was the leading Brit in fifth position with Hawkins (seventh), Jonathan Hay (12th) and Dewi Griffiths (16th) completing the scoring.
Emelia Gorecka (Aldershot, Farnham and District) won the under-20 women’s race and led Great Britain to another team gold. There was further success for Great Britain when Gemma Steel took second position behind French athlete Sophie Duarte in the senior women’s race.
Steel also led the Brits to team gold with backing from Julia Bleasdale (seventh), Lauren Howarth (11th) and Scotland’s Steph Twell (15th).
Andy Vernon collected individual and team bronze in the men’s race, which was won by Spain’s Alemayehu Bezabeh.