All Eyes On The Euro Cross

CHARLOTTE ARTER WAS HARDLY THE FASTEST RUNNER AT SCHOOL BUT IS NOW MAKING HER MARK AS ONE OF BRITAIN’S BEST ENDURANCE ATHLETES

- Jason Henderson

TEN years ago Charlotte Arter finished last in the English Schools 3000m final and just managed to squeeze into the top 100 at the English Schools Cross Country

Championships. Yet this month she will attempt to win the senior women’s race at the European trials in Liverpool’s Sefton Park followed soon afterward by trying to improve on the excellent seventh place she achieved at the European Cross Country Championships last year.

From humble beginnings, after a decade of hard training and gradual progression Arter is now one of the leading cross-country runners in not only Britain but across Europe. On the roads, meanwhile, she recently shot to No.4 on the UK all-time rankings for 10km with 31:34 at the Leeds Abbey Dash.

“It shows that things don’t happen overnight and if you work hard over a long period of time it’ll all come together,” she says. “My coach, Chris Jones, and I are still learning what works for me but we’re now getting a good understanding.

“I did a school visit recently and my main message was when it comes to the longevity of your career it’s all about working hard over a long period and you’ll get your rewards in the end.”

Arter knows she has not reached the peak of her career yet, though. She is hungry to make more international teams on the country, road, and track in coming years. She has half an eye on Olympic selection. The European Championships is definitely a target. One day, she smiles through gritted teeth, she will give the marathon a crack too.