Highgate Harrier Lauren Russell has capped off a sensational cross country season with a fruitful trip to the mountains.
Following top-5 finishes in the National Cross Country and British Intercounties Championships, Lauren waved goodbye to the under-17 age group with a memorable bronze at English Schools Cross Country in March.
In her first race as an under-20, lining up against girls years older, the London Youth Games champion showed how you don’t need to live near actual mountains when you regularly run up Parliament Hill or round Ally Pally for breakfast.
Lauren, who lives in Muswell Hill and attends Highgate School, floated up the Cumbrian mountainside to finish a brilliant second at the Junior English Fell Championships in Ambleside last weekend.
As the first U18 in the race Lauren qualified to run for England in this month’s U18 Mountain Running Cup in Annecy, France.
Not content with just an England vest at first time of trying, her silver medal position also qualified Lauren for the Great Britain team at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck next month.
Everyone at Highgate Harriers, especially her coaches Hannah Viner and Chris Rainsford along with her training group, is incredibly proud and wishes her the best of luck on the first steps of her journey as an international athlete.
Well done Lauren!