The British 100km road record holder heads a seven-strong British team set for Croatia in September.
Steve Way, whose personal best of 6:19:20 from 2014 is the quickest ever by a British athlete across 100km on the road, finished third at the Comrades Marathon in South Africa earlier this month and now turns his attention to the IAU 100km World Championships in Croatia on Saturday, September 8.
The 43-year-old completed what is regarded as one of the toughest ultra-road races in the world in a time of 5:35:26 to become the first European to secure a spot on the podium since Jonas Buud in 2013 and the first British runner to do so since Cavin Woodward in 1976.
He will be joined on the plane to Croatia by the top two from this year’s British championships, Robert Turner and Anthony Clark. The previous British champion Lee Grantham – recording a time of 6:42.25 on his way to that win – completes the line-up in the men’s squad.
Carla Molinaro also secured her place on the plane to Croatia with her performance in South Africa. Molinaro crossed the finish line as the ninth fastest woman at the Comrades Marathon, setting a personal best in her third appearance at the race.
Joining her on the women’s start line will be 2013 European bronze medallist and 2017 British 100km champion Sue Harrison and Samantha Amend who recorded the fastest ever Anglo Celtic Plate time of 7:53:57 by winning this year’s British Championships.
There have been eight British winners in the history of the event, with Ellie Greenwood being the last British athlete to win the 100km world title in 2014. Joasia Zakrzewski won bronze in the women’s event the last time the championships were held in 2016, before the race switched to a biannual event.
“We have a very good record at these championships and I am pleased to select a team of seven who have performed so well recently,” said Chair of Selectors Walter Hill. “We have seen strong displays at the British trials and the Comrades marathon, so they have all deserved their place in the squad.
“They will continue their preparations now for September’s championships, and I look forward to seeing them in action, battling for podium places both individually and as a team.”