Australia-bound! Megan and Hannah picked for World Cross Champs

Wednesday 1st February 2023

British Athletics website team announcement

Megan Keith and Hannah Ryding have been selected by British Athletics for the World Cross Country Champs in Australia.

The Scottish duo will represent GB and NI at the event in Bathurst on Saturday 18 February.

It is a wonderful moment for both young athletes and their families, coaches and clubs with the British team 17-strong in total across the age groups and a mixed relay event.

Megan, who is coached by Ross Cairns and came through the ranks at Inverness Harriers before moving to Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds, is picked for the Senior Women’s team.

Hannah, who is coached by Glasgow-based Olympian Lynne Macdougall and is with Giffnock North AC, is picked for the Junior Women’s team.

We send our warm congratulations to both on their selection which reflect well on cross country in Scotland.

Megan, of course, has been in excellent form this winter and won silver at the Euro Cross in Italy in December when she raced in the U23 age group.

Not yet 21, Megan then won the British Cross Challenge event at Scone Palace and followed that up with a strong run for third in Belgium the week after.

Hannah performed well in the British Cross Challenge U20 Women’s race at Scone Palace – with that race a key one in the deliberations of the selectors.

Photo by Bobby Gavin

‘It’s always pleasing to see Scottish athletes selected for global events and we look forward to seeing Megan and Hannah compete at the World Cross,’ said Mark Pollard, our Head of Performance.

‘We congratulate the two athletes and their coaches and families on the selections for Australia and also the support teams around them and the clubs involved in their development over the years.

‘Megan of course has been really impressive over the last 18 months in cross country – winning gold and silver medals at the Euro Cross (U20 in 2021 and U23 in 2022).

‘Now she is stepping up to the Senior Women’s level, when not even yet turned 21, and that’s simply a reflection on her great progress.

‘It’s exciting for Hannah to enjoy a first taste of international cross country action outside of Britain and, again, there’s a lot of hard work there being rewarded by the athlete and coach. The pathway at Giffnock North deserves credit, too, as another athlete is selected by GB and NI.’