by Stuart Weir
World Cross preview for Team GB
Britain will take a team of 20 athletes to the 2026 World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, on 10th January. Uk Athletics stated that the team selected was to fulfil the policy aims: to achieve team medal success at the event, support senior athletes in preparation for future global track success, and provide opportunities for junior athletes to develop.
The event comes shortly after European Cross Country Championships in Portugal in which Team GB took six medals.
The best known athlete is probably Megan Keith, who took silver in the recent Euro-Cross and who was 10th in the 10K in Tokyo in the summer.
With Phobe Anderson, Verity Ockenden and Poppy Tank joining Megan Keith, the team should be competitive in the Senior Women’s race. The senior men’s squad includes Rory Leonard, who finished 17th at the European Cross Country Championships and Matthew Ramsden, who finished an impressive sixth in the U23 race in Portugal just before Christmas.
In the mixed relay, returning from the historic bronze medallists from 2024 are Alex Millard and Adam Fogg who were part of that successful quartet.
In the junior races, Alex Lennon who was the first Brit over the line at the Europeans, finishing 15th in the U20 race, will be joined Michael Clark who finished 18th in that race despite losing one spike in the first lap of the race. The junior women’s team includes Eliza Nicholson and Zara Redmond who were part of the U20 European gold medal-winning team. Innes FitzGerald who won the European U20 for a third consecutive year will not be in Tallahasse.
Team Leader, Luke Gunn, who is also the husband of Hannah England, explained his expectations: “We’ve selected a team that reflects our commitment to success, aiming to make the podium at this event and giving talented juniors the chance to gain invaluable experience as they build towards future cross country success. We look forward to seeing how they perform against the world’s best in what will be a fast and fun course out in Florida.”
The full Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team (listed with coach and club is:
Senior Women
Phoebe Anderson (Laurie Henes, Herne Hill)
Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness)
Verity Ockenden (Swansea)
Poppy Tank (City of Plymouth)
Senior Men
Jacob Cann (Western Tempo)
Rory Leonard (Andrew Hobdell, Morpeth)
David Mullarkey (Andrew Henerson, Leeds City)
Matthew Ramsden (Edmund Finucane, Blackburn)
Mixed Relay
George Couttie (Ben Thomas, Harrogate)
India Weir (Andrew Hobdell, Cambridge)
Adam Fogg (Cory Leslie, Coventry)
Alex Millard (Mark Coogan, Invicta East Kent)
Junior Women
Maisey Bellwood (Keighley & Craven)
Eliza Nicholson (Joe Franklin, Blackheath & Bromley)
Zara Redmond (Sarah Dempsey, Kilbarchan)
Kitty Scott (Mick Woods, Aldershot, Farnham & District)
Junior Men
Michael Clark (Jane Clark, City of Norwich)
Luke Dunham (Andrew Hobdell, Herts Phoenix)
Jonson Hughes (Andrew Henderson, Rotherham)
Alex Lennon (Nick Hancock, Sutton & District)
