Tom Owen and Beth Pascall are among the 12 runners named to represent Great Britain at the IAU / ITRA World Trail Championships on May 12.
Owens and Pascall, who have both been part of medal-winning teams at these championships in the past, will lead the team over the 50 miles/80km course in the Spanish region of Penyagolosa later this year.
Scottish ultra runner Owens was fourth individually back in 2015 as he led the team to a bronze medal. He has been one of the British teams most consistent performers over the last few years.
Jon Albon who won the World Skyrunning Championships back in 2017 is also named in the team, while Rob Sinclair earns his first international cap after a string of outstanding results last year when he recorded course records across a number of established trail races in the UK.
Pascall was a top-ten finisher at the last edition of these Championships and she too was part of a bronze medal-winning women’s team. The six-strong team includes Katie Kaars Sijpersteijn who won the prestigious Lakeland 50 last July, setting a course record along the way.
“Selection for this event was very difficult, reflecting the real strength in depth we have in ultra-trail running in this country at the moment,” said Team Leader Adrian Stott. “We have a talented mix of established names and some new faces earning their debuts on the back of some very impressive performances in 2017.
“So we feel we have individuals capable of high placings, and solid teams that are able to mix it with the Spanish, French and Americans who traditionally do well in the team competition, which is a key element of the championship.”
The full British team:
Women
Rachel Campbell, Sally Fawcett, Katie Kaars Sijpersteijn, Holly Page, Beth Pascall and Sarah Moorwood.
Men
Jon Albon, Tom Evans, Tom Owens, Rob Sinclair, Ryan Smith and Andy Symonds *(subject to fitness).