Sarah 6th at World Champs

Having missed the European Mountain Running Championships earlier this summer due to a niggling foot injury which curtailed her training, Sarah McCormack (centre) travelled to Poland with the Ireland team for the World championships very much back on form. Fresh from her defence of the Scottish 5000m title on the track last month and a 5000m PB of 15.46 at the BMC meeting in Coventry two weeks ago, and with the race this year run over her favoured up and down course, an improvement on her excellent 15th place at the 2012 World Championship was not unrealistic.

Bingley Harrier Emma Clayton took the race by the scruff of the neck from the gun but Sarah was clearly up for it close behind in 2nd on the first lap ascent. Heading out on lap 2 she was still vying for 2nd with the lead runner from the traditionally strong Turkey team but as the Turk drifted back the challenges to Sarah's medal position started to come from behind, most notably from the Italians. Sarah was still 4th behind Clayton and two Italians heading into the final 1km but her medal hopes faded on the final steep climb and she finished 6th in the end, still a fantastic result and a huge improvement on last year. Consolation, if any was needed, came from finishing ahead of three of her four domestic rivals from the GB team and also leading Ireland to team bronze, their best ever finish at this level.

Irish report here https://www.imra.ie/events/report/id/925/tab/report/?feedback=4