Race Report Junior Women – Elgoibar Juan Muguerza International Cross Country, Spain – 5 January 2025
2 min readThere were fine and dominant performances by the U20 Women’s quartet of Eleanor Strevens, (Eastbourne, Christopher Voice), Zoe Gilbody (Telford AC, Sarah Benson), Isabel Holt (Blackburn, Edmund Finucane) and Isla McGowan (Banbury, Ros Kelling) at this prestigious Spanish cross country event now part of the Gold World Athletics Cross Country Tour.
The Junior Women’s 5,535m course comprised a lap of the track, one small lap and two larger laps. From the start the English quartet headed the field out on to the small lap, and towards the end of this lap a gap between them and the chasing pack began to open up. As the race entered the first of the two large laps Zoe pushed on to take the lead with Eleanor and Isabel sitting in behind, and Isla 10 metres back. As the athletes approached the first significant climb on the course Eleanor hit the front and as the lap progressed began to pull away from Zoe, who was opening a gap on Isabel. The positions remained unchanged for the final large lap with Eleanor surging ahead to claim victory, 10 seconds clear of Zoe in second place. Isabel too produced an impressive performance in her debut for England cross country, taking the third podium position.
Meanwhile, on the final lap Isla was caught by Spain’s Nadia Perez and then by the Spanish compatriot Claudi Guierrez. Isla continued to hold her form to cross the line in a credible 6th place in what was first outing for England Cross Country.
An excellent performance by the U20 English Roses!
1st Eleanor Strevens (281)– 0:19:46
2nd Zoe Gilbody (282) – 0:19:56
3rd Isabel Holt (284) – 0:20:16
6th Isla McGowan (283) – 0:20:54
