EUROPEAN MOUNTAIN RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS 7July 2019,
Zermatt/SUI
Length: 10.1km | Ascent/Descent: +1030m/-45m
Jacob ADKIN time 53:21 winning by 25sec
The Euro Mountain Running Champs were uphill only
which is Jacob's forte having recently convincingly won both the UK trials and
the Mont Blanc Vertical Kilometer in Chamonix, and on his way to world 6th place last year he was 2nd European so a real prospect.
Footage of crossing the line and interview here: https://www.facebook.com/EMRCH2019Zermatt/posts/847228828980389
Scottish Athletics:
Scottish athlete JACOB ADKIN took gold today at the European Mountain Running Championships in Zermatt in Switzerland.
It was a superb run by Jacob, who was sixth in the Worlds last year at Senior Men's level and grew up representing Moorfoot Runners and Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds.
And there were team golds for GB and NI for the very first time in these champs with Robbie Simpson in 7th and Andy Douglas in 9th.
Congratulations to Jacob and his family and coach on a remarkable achievement and the other athletes, too, on a superb representation for hill running in Scotland.
Check out the focus of a future European champion (far left) having just finished 31st in the National U13 XC Champs in 2009.
Strong performances from Scottish athletes secured victories for Team GB & Northern Ireland at the European Mountain Running Championships (uphill) at the weekend.
Both the senior and junior men’s teams won gold medals at the event, held in Zermatt, Switzerland.
Jacob Adkin, the first British runner to win a senior European title
since 2016, won the race by 25 seconds. Making his debut at senior
level, Adkin was coached to victory by Scotland’s Robbie Simpson
(Deeside Runners), who was also a member of the men’s senior team.
Simpson, who won bronze at the Gold Coast Games, finished seventh.
Andrew Douglas (Inverclyde) provided the third finishing time of the
team of four by coming home ninth.
The weekend’s win for the senior men’s team saw them top the European
podium for the first time ever, beating Italy by one point.
Interviewed after his double-gold day, Adkin said: “Going into the
race, I didn’t have any specific expectations. I initially set out
fighting for the team, and the individual placing didn’t really enter my
head until I hit the front about a third of the way through.
“But when the opportunity presents itself to potentially get an
individual medal at a major championship, that pushes you on alongside
the massive support of team mates and crowds at the side of the route.
“And ultimately, you want to do the hill justice don’t you?”
Reflecting later on Twitter, Adkin said: “In an amazing landscape, it’s
a moment I won’t forget for a long time: European Champion and Team! I
owe so much to incredible family & friends, you won’t know how
much!”
