![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Megan-Keith-u-23-XC-.jpg\")
Megan Keith, European Athletics U 23 Cross Country, photo by Chiara Montesano for European Athletics<\/p>\nSolid GB performance at Tallahassee<\/p>\n
It was a solid but unspectacular performance by the British team at the 2026 World Cross Country Championships in Florida, achieving overall 9th place. The best team performance was achieved by the junior men\u2019s team securing a 5th place in the team event. The best individual placing for Michael Clark 20th in the junior men\u2019s race. The team finished a respectable seventh position in the mixed relay, with two athletes making their senior debut.\u00a0 Clark commented: \u201cI\u2019m over the moon, it\u2019s what I\u2019ve been training for a long time. The fact that I could finally have nothing happen to me and go out shows the level of fitness I am in. I am really happy with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0At the Europeans, one of Clark\u2019s spikes dislodged itself on the first lap, laughing about managing the issue for the Worlds, he said, \u201cI had tape on my shoes\u201d.<\/p>\n
David Mullarkey finishing 26th in the senior men\u2019s race, the best finish by a Brit in the senior men\u2019s race since Mo Farah finished 20th in 2010. Having been based in Florida in recent years, the climate and ground were familiar territory. Mullarkey said: \u201cIt\u2019s an honour and privilege. I like to thank all the people out there shouting for me, my home away from home. I did a good job of staying calm and collected, and I think that reflected in me moving up, pacing it well to start with and move up the field. I was competing against some of the top guys in the world, so it\u2019s great for where I want to be now, but for the future of moving forward and getting higher and higher.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a gutsy performance from the senior women\u2019s team, facing over 100 entrants into the event, finishing 7th in the team standings in challenging conditions in the heat of the day.<\/p>\n
Megan Keith, European Athletics U 23 Cross Country, photo by Chiara Montesano for European Athletics<\/p>\n
For the entirety of the race, Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness) pushed forward, chasing a top 20 position and sitting around 14th for most of the race. Unfortunately, she slipped to finish 25th after the heat took its toll on the last lap. The European silver medalist said she took a chance with her race today. \u201cI wanted to take a risk today, and I am proud that I did. I came a bit undone on the last lap, but I don\u2019t regret giving it a shot. It has got to be the hardest race in the world. It is a humbling experience, but you know you\u2019re taking on the best runners in the world and see how you stack up, and it\u2019s all about balancing that line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Poppy Tank finished four places behind Keith at 29th after running in a approached manner, she admitted she was careful with how she began the race, \u201cIt was very hard, I went out very cautiously and I know from Australia how hot and long it is; it\u2019s the longest cross course route we do and I made sure I felt as good as I could until about three laps to go and then just slowly started picking people off. Tank said: \u00a0\u201cIt means a lot to be on the world stage, I coach myself, I do a lot of things on my own, I train alone and I am very independent to a fault but I am really proud of myself and with the girls, I am really good friends with all three of them and I love competing with them and it\u2019s always a great honour. It is amazing to be on the course with your team and to work together, even if it is an individual sport, and it means a lot to rally each other along, it\u2019s really special.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s junior race, the team had only three finishers so did not gain a placing.<\/p>\n
Individual results:<\/p>\n
Junior Women<\/p>\n
Eliza Nicholson 36<\/p>\n
Zara Redmond 49<\/p>\n
Maisey Bellwood 54<\/p>\n
Kitty Scott DNF<\/p>\n
Junior Men<\/p>\n
Michael Clark 20<\/p>\n
Luke\u00a0 Dunham 24<\/p>\n
Alex Lennon\u00a0 31<\/p>\n
Jonson Hughes 35<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Senior women<\/p>\n
Megan Keith 24<\/p>\n
Poppy Tank 29<\/p>\n
Phoebe Anderson 35<\/p>\n
Verity Ockeden 41<\/p>\n
Senior men<\/p>\n
David Mullarkey 26<\/p>\n
Matt Ramsden 53<\/p>\n
Rory Leonard 79<\/p>\n
Jacob Cann 71<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/userpic-126-100x100-1.png\")
<\/p>\n
Since 2015, Stuart Weir has written for RunBlogRun. He attends about 20 events a year including all most global championships and Diamond Leagues. He enjoys finding the quirky and obscure story.<\/p>\n
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