Exeter teenage running sensation Innes Fitzgerald takes on the best athletes in Europe at the weekend when she competes in the European Athletics Indoor Championships.
The Exeter Harrier, who trains on the City Council-run track at Exeter Arena, will be running in the heats of the Women’s 3,000m at 9.20am GMT on Saturday morning (8 March). The Championships are being televised by the BBC.
For 18-year-old Innes, the last couple of months have been little short of incredible.
In February, she smashed the European under-20 indoor 3,000m record by an incredible ten seconds and in the process took 16 seconds off Zola Budd’s British indoor under-20 record.
Innes, who is a student at the University of Exeter, followed that up with an impressive bronze medal at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham, front-running from the start and leading Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir with just two laps to go.
Her success at the UK Indoor Championships led to her being selected for the Great Britain team for this weekend’s European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
Innes is coached by Gavin Pavey, who runs the Isca Endurance squad at the Arena. Gavin is no stranger to success, having guided his wife Jo to medals at the World, European and Commonwealth Games level.
Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor for Leisure Services & Healthy Living, said: “Innes’ form has been nothing short of remarkable in recent weeks
“She has already demonstrated that she is comfortable in top-class fields as well as making the progression from junior to senior athletics.
“It’s wonderful to see a young athlete, who is honing her talent on our very own Exeter Arena track, doing so well on the European stage. We wish her all the best for the Championships and for the future.”
Exeter Harriers train at Exeter Arena on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. To get involved, visit the Exeter Harriers website at https://exeterharriers.org.uk/
Source link
exeter.one newsbite last confirmed 2 weeks ago by Exeter One
