British Athletics has announced the men’s and women’s team for the 24 hour European Championships to be held in Timisoara, Romania this May. 

The men’s team, silver medallists at the last European Champs in Albi, France, will be looking for team gold and are led by returning European champion Dan Alan Lawson, who is currently training in India.

James Stewart, who features in the ‘fast runners: class of 2018‘ and fellow Scot Marco Consani, alongside experienced 24hr team members Paddy Robbins and Steve Holyoak, will be joined by debutant Craig Holgate.

Craig qualified at the Bislett 24hr last year and has previously performed excellently for Great Britain at the 100k distance. Bislett 24hr is run completely indoors in the training area of the famous athletics stadium.

The women’s team are only taking five athletes, but will also be contending for team medals with string returning athletes such as Ali Young and Jess Baker joined debutants to the GB 24hr squad Wendy Shaw, Tracy Dean and Adela Salt.

Dean and Salt have both previously represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at trail and road ultra distances and ran large 24hr distances in China and the US respectively late last year. Shaw is making her first appearance in a GB vest after an outstanding performance of 220km at the Barcelona 24hr race last December.

The team will be supported by Team Leader John Pares, who is still the reigning Commonwealth 24hr Champion, sports dietician Renee McGregor, physiotherapist Guy Van Herp and squad member Robbie Britton.

Britton, who is taking a step back from his own 24hr career to focus on trail running and supporting the squad in other ways said: “we have such a fantastic crop of athletes here and it’s really good to be seeing new members joining the ranks. Both the men’s and women’s team have the potential to return with team and individual medals and it is an honour to be a part of it.”

Fast Running will be following the build-up of James Stewart in particular as he shares his running journey in 2018.