Jasmin Paris, the ultrarunner who became a global sensation earlier this month when she won the 268-mile Spine Race, beating her male rivals by 15 hours and the course record by over 12, has been rewarded by being selected to run for Britain for the first time at the age of 35.
Paris, who also holds three separate UK 24-hour mountain running records while holding down a job as a full-time vet, is one of a 12-strong British team chosen for the Trial World Championships in Mirandha do Corvo in Portugal in June following her victory in one of the world’s toughest races, along the Pennine Way from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yethelm on the Scottish borders in just 83 hours, 12 minutes and 23 seconds.
Britain’s squad also includes the world long-distance mountain running champion Charlotte Morgan as well as the men’s ultra skyrunning world champion John Albion. The 2013 world ultra-trial champion Ricky Lightfoot and Andrew Davies, who ran for England in last year’s Commonwealth Games, also get the nod.
British team leader Adrian Stott hailed his strong squad and predicted that it would challenge for the podium. “The strength in depth of mountain and trail running in the UK just now is apparent in the strong men’s and women’s teams selected,” he added. “The British team has traditionally competed well and come home with team medals from these championships. We are sure our team will again be a match to challenge the leading nations like Spain, Italy France and the USA.
“The fact it is a relatively short, but technical 45km course for this year’s ultra-trail championship, has been reflected in the selection with a mix of experienced ultra-runners and long distance fell runners. well suited to doing well in June.”
Senior Women: Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn, Jo Meek, Charlotte Morgan Holly Page, Jasmin Paris, Georgia Tindley. Senior Men: Jon Albon, Seb Batchelor, Carl Bell, Andrew Davies, Ricky Lightfoot, Andy Symonds.