Solid GB performance at Tallahassee
It was a solid but unspectacular performance by the British team at the 2026 World Cross Country Championships in Florida, achieving overall 9th place. The best team performance was achieved by the junior men’s team securing a 5th place in the team event. The best individual placing for Michael Clark 20th in the junior men’s race. The team finished a respectable seventh position in the mixed relay, with two athletes making their senior debut. Clark commented: “I’m over the moon, it’s what I’ve been training for a long time. The fact that I could finally have nothing happen to me and go out shows the level of fitness I am in. I am really happy with that.”
At the Europeans, one of Clark’s spikes dislodged itself on the first lap, laughing about managing the issue for the Worlds, he said, “I had tape on my shoes”.
David Mullarkey finishing 26th in the senior men’s race, the best finish by a Brit in the senior men’s race since Mo Farah finished 20th in 2010. Having been based in Florida in recent years, the climate and ground were familiar territory. Mullarkey said: “It’s an honour and privilege. I like to thank all the people out there shouting for me, my home away from home. I did a good job of staying calm and collected, and I think that reflected in me moving up, pacing it well to start with and move up the field. I was competing against some of the top guys in the world, so it’s great for where I want to be now, but for the future of moving forward and getting higher and higher.”
There was a gutsy performance from the senior women’s team, facing over 100 entrants into the event, finishing 7th in the team standings in challenging conditions in the heat of the day.
For the entirety of the race, Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness) pushed forward, chasing a top 20 position and sitting around 14th for most of the race. Unfortunately, she slipped to finish 25th after the heat took its toll on the last lap. The European silver medalist said she took a chance with her race today. “I wanted to take a risk today, and I am proud that I did. I came a bit undone on the last lap, but I don’t regret giving it a shot. It has got to be the hardest race in the world. It is a humbling experience, but you know you’re taking on the best runners in the world and see how you stack up, and it’s all about balancing that line.”
Poppy Tank finished four places behind Keith at 29th after running in a approached manner, she admitted she was careful with how she began the race, “It was very hard, I went out very cautiously and I know from Australia how hot and long it is; it’s the longest cross course route we do and I made sure I felt as good as I could until about three laps to go and then just slowly started picking people off. Tank said: “It means a lot to be on the world stage, I coach myself, I do a lot of things on my own, I train alone and I am very independent to a fault but I am really proud of myself and with the girls, I am really good friends with all three of them and I love competing with them and it’s always a great honour. It is amazing to be on the course with your team and to work together, even if it is an individual sport, and it means a lot to rally each other along, it’s really special.”
In the women’s junior race, the team had only three finishers so did not gain a placing.
Individual results:
Junior Women
Eliza Nicholson 36
Zara Redmond 49
Maisey Bellwood 54
Kitty Scott DNF
Junior Men
Michael Clark 20
Luke Dunham 24
Alex Lennon 31
Jonson Hughes 35
Senior women
Megan Keith 24
Poppy Tank 29
Phoebe Anderson 35
Verity Ockeden 41
Senior men
David Mullarkey 26
Matt Ramsden 53
Rory Leonard 79
Jacob Cann 71
