Athletics
Straw shines on full England bow

BARNT GREEN’S Becky Straw produced a brilliant performance to clinch a second placed finish whilst on duty for the England U20 junior women’s team in a prestigious cross country race in northern Spain.

Sixteen-year-old Becky, who is Redditch born and bred, was selected as part of an England squad which took four teams of four athletes - U20 junior women and men and senior women and men - and the King Edward VI High School for Girls (Edgbaston) A-level student did not disappoint on her full English debut.

Becky’s mother Sally said of the weekend adventure to compete in the Juan Muguerza Memorial Race: “The whole experience for her was amazing.

“She loved the team spirit and all that went with it, including a civic reception on Saturday evening, chatting with the older athletes (one of whom, Natalie Harvey, has run in two Olympic 10km finals ) and seeing all the international athletes, which was all very inspiring for her.”

Teams from Italy, France, Belgium and Portugal were in action, as well as individually invited athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia in the senior races.

The race is now in its 69th year of being held and the whole town turns out to watch and fills the stadium.

With a carnival atmosphere including live local TV coverage and brass bands, the noise was constant all day and Becky - the youngest member of the team - ran superbly.

She took the race on from the gun and after about 1,000m of the 4.5km race Becky and Spanish athlete Claudia Estevez had broken clear of the field in opening a lead of about 50m from Becky’s third placed British team-mate.

Becky hung on until they passed the stadium for the last time with 2km to go but the Spanish girl kicked on, buoyed by the cheers from the home crowd, and made a gap of about 15m.

Becky could not quite close it down, despite a surge with 400m to go, and had to settle for an excellent second place, just nine seconds behind the winner.

Becky was rewarded with a huge trophy and 200 Euros prize money, which capped a wonderful trip.