An enjoyable European experience for England U20s in Italy

England U20 teams returned to Oderzo in Italy for the ninth edition of the European U20 Road Races. As always, the Trofeo Opitergium event is held on 1 May which is a public holiday in Italy and ensures there is great support along the course.

This year both men’s and women’s races were dominated by outstanding performances from Swedish athletes. Sebastian Lörstad won convincingly in 29:27 on a course that is not traditionally known for fast times, the course record has only been bettered by his own victory last year. Carmen Cernjul had an equally impressive victory in the women’s race in 15:21 as Sweden finished first, second and fourth to claim the women’s team prize too.

Seb Melero (Saint Edmund Pacers) was the first English male athlete home in only his second 10k - finishing ninth in 31:19. Afterwards he said:

"I was really pleased to finish in the top ten in my first race for England and to run as fast as I did in the heat."

He was closely followed by Liam Johnson (St Helens Sutton AC, Raymond Vose) in 11th in 31:43. Cosmo Benyan (Cambridge and Coleridge, Richard Park) made up the scoring team in 21st with his debut 10k in 32:36. Unfortunately, Tom Webb (Wells City Harriers) suffered cramp in the warm conditions and was unable to complete the course. The men’s team finished in a very respectable fifth place.

Eleanor Foster (North Devon AC, Mark Brace) led home the England women in 12th place in 16:54. She summed up her England debut as "a really great experience and very enjoyable to compete against all the other nations." Imogen Edwards (Basingstoke and Mid Hants AC, Rodney Finch) was close behind in 13th place in 17:13 and Erin Wells (Poole AC, Mark Courtney) finished strongly in 16th in 17:19 - bringing the England women’s team to an excellent fourth-place finish.