Thrill of the chase: Sarah has no regrets in Madrid and Naomi on Mont Blanc Marathon podium

Monday 30th June 2025

Photo from European Athletics/British Athletics

Sarah Tait had no regrets after a superb Senior championship debut for GB and NI in Madrid.

The second finished second at the Euro Team Champs as the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase came down to a photo finish.

Sarah lost out by just three hundredths of a second after taking the lead in the last lap of a slow race in Spain.

Over the final barrier ahead, the Scot was closing in on a memorable victory but was edged out on the line by Finland’s Ilona Mononen at 9:49.21 to 9:49.24.

Ranked around fifth on times pre-race, it was nonetheless a strong run by the Lasswade AC athlete now at West Virginia University.

‘It was great, I am really pleased with that,’ said Sarah.

‘I did think I had the win just at the end there, I need to practice my dip – hindsight is a wonderful thing. It is all about the experience at the end of the day, so I will know next time. I am really pleased with that.

‘I thought nobody is really picking it up and I just thought I would go. I thought I was clear, and I thought I had it, but I was just taken on the line. Hey, it is a bit bittersweet but it was a great experience and I am really pleased with it.’

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Naomi picked for World Champs

Scottish hill runner Naomi Lang has been in superb form in 2025 and gave the perfect example of that over the weekend.

The Mont Blanc Marathon from Chamonix in France is rated one of the toughest events in the world with 25000m of climb included in the famous distance and 1500m descent.

Yet Carnethy HRC athlete Naomi came up with a superb third place in the Women’s race as she finished in 4:17:43. The Scot was only a couple of minutes behind winner, Joyline Chepngeno.

That’s a world class performance in the discipline and bodes well for the World Mountain and Trail Champs later in the year with Naomi picked for GB and NI recently for the event in Spain.

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Tags: Euro Team Champs, Madrid, Naomi Lang, Sarah Tait