Triathlon star Potter will be joined by Rory Leonard, Phoebe Anderson, Verity Ockenden and Sarah Astin among others in squad for inaugural event in Belgium on April 12-13
Beth Potter has excelled in triathlon in recent years, winning a world title in 2023 and Olympic bronze in 2024. But the 33-year-old is making a welcome return to athletics in April by tackling the 10km at the new European Road Running Championships in Leuven, Belgium.
Potter is no stranger to running-only events, of course. She won multiple GB vests as a runner, culminating in racing over 10,000m at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2017 World Championships in London.
But since focusing on triathlon her running appearances have been limited. She returned to action at the Pulford 10km this month, though, winning in 31:18 and securing selection for Leuven.
She will be joined in the 10km race by the reigning under-23 European cross country champion, Phoebe Anderson, Verity Ockenden, Amelia Quirk, Sarah Astin and Jenny Nesbitt, the latter of whom was originally selected for the half marathon earlier this year but has opted to compete in the 10km instead.
Rory Leonard, who broke the men’s British 10km record earlier this year in Valencia, is joined in the men’s team for the 10km in Leuven by Alfie Manthorpe, Charlie Wheeler and Ellis Cross.
Rory Leonard (Valencia 10km)
The inaugural event, which will combine elite race championships with mass participation opportunities, will also feature a marathon and a half-marathon.
Brits in those events include: Hannah Irwin, Natasha Phillips and Ben Connor in the half-marathon, with Georgina Schwiening and George James in the marathon.
Since the half-marathon and marathon selections were originally made Mhairi Maclennan, Clara Evans Graham and Tom Anderson have withdrawn.
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