WATCH: Zoey Clark on winning her fifth senior international relay medal

Wednesday 10th March 2021

Zoey lands silver with GB and NI in Poland

Zoey Clark has been reflecting on her silver medal with GB and NI in the Women’s 4x400m Relay at the European Indoors in Poland.

Holland won the title with a Championship Record run of 3:27.15 but the British quartet could be delighted with their second place after strong performances by all four athletes. GB and NI duly clocked 3:28.20 with home favourites Poland taking bronze.

It was a fifth Senior International relay medal for Aberdeen-based Zoey, who has been coached throughout her career by Eddie McKenna.

‘It was so exciting,’ said Zoey after returning home to Scotland.

‘It is always exciting to compete with GB and NI at a championship event but I think this one felt a little bit more special simply because it is so long since we had that kind of event.

‘I’m thrilled with my split of 51.83 for the opening leg. The Dutch athlete I was facing had run very well in the individual 400m and even has quicker times than that for this season. She usually goes out hard on the first lap so that probably helped get me round and I was delighted to basically keep pace with her to the first changeover.

‘On the 4x400m relay, the first leg is the closest you get to a usual 400m run so I’m happy with my run and where it shows me I’m at currently.’

Coach Eddie noted on Twitter that it is now 10 years since Zoey first started picking up relay medals with GB and NI – as the youngest member of the squad at the Euro U20s in Tallinn in Estonia in the summer of 2011.

‘Wow, ten years ago, that makes me feel old!,’ laughed Zoey.

‘I’ve good memories of that trip because I was only 16 and everything was all new for me. It was the first time I’d been at that level of competition, first time wearing the GB and NI kit and so on.

‘I was lucky in many ways that I ran in the heat and therefore got to know all the routine without the pressure of a final. I can’t believe it is ten years ago now!’

European 4×4 Silver Medalists?
Wearing the GB kit for the first time in 15 months felt so special and I’m proud of how we ran as a team. Returning to international competition has relit a spark within me and I am excited to see what the year will bring. pic.twitter.com/ZwONeBUGz7

— Zoey Clark (@_ZoeyClark) March 8, 2021