Scottish quartet savour their World Cross action in Belgrade

Sunday 31st March 2024

Natasha with her GB and NI Junior Women team-mates (photo via British Athletics)

Four Scots were with the GB and NI team for the World Cross Champs in Serbia.

And, although the temperatures in the 20s and very strong fields made it tough, all of our athletes could be satisfied with strong runs.

It was the biggest Scottish representation in a GB and NI team for the World Cross since 2010 and only the second time in over 20 years that more than three athletes have been selected.

*Natasha Phillips was 30th in Junior Women’s race

*Craig Shennan was 35th in the Junior Men’s race

*Alice Goodall was 46th in the Senior Women’s race

*Scott Stirling was 74th in the Senior Men’s race

Well done to the Scottish quartet with GB and NI at the World Cross and to their families, coaches and clubs.

Full round-up on the GB and NI performances from British Athletics

Alice in an interview afterwards described it as the toughest race of her whole career – which has spanned mountain running, road and track as well as cross country.

Natasha’s top half finish in a race of around 80 athletes came as the GB and NI Junior Women took fiftth place in an event dominated by the Africans.

Craig, who is 17, was the second British counter of four in that Junior Men’s race for a fine performance in a race with around 90 athletes involved.

“I’ve done mountain running, 25 laps of the track, a lot of cross country and that was by far the hardest race I’ve ever done.”

💥 Alice Goodall finished 46th in the World Cross senior women’s race, one place behind team-mate Lauren McNeil

🗣️ It was the Scot’s first senior… pic.twitter.com/vls2BtbogX

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) March 30, 2024