England team selected for the International U18 Mountain Running Cup
We are pleased to announce a strong team of eight athletes that will represent England at the International U18 Mountain Running Cup next month.
The picturesque resort of Donovaly in Slovakia will host the 18th edition of the event, where the world’s best young mountain runners will come together to race on a course 5.8km in distance with 513m of elevation gain.
The team managers will be Sharon Taylor and Gary Priestley. Gary said:
"Sharon and I are very excited about the team of talented athletes that we will be taking to Slovakia. We wish them all the very best with their final preparations and hope they will enjoy the experience."
U18 Men
- Jake Ireland (Macclesfield) - Jake won the Fell Runners' Association (FRA) junior championships and gained his first England vest at the Junior Home International in Ireland, finishing 4th and contributing to the team's first position. This year Jake finished 4th at the Inter Counties XC Championships and won the U15 National XC Championships. He earned his place on the England squad at the SIAB XC Championships where he was part of the winning team.
- Thomas McKee (Al Whitelaw, Calder Valley Fell Runners) – Thomas has been a member of Calder Valley Fell Runners (CVFR) since he was 8 years old. He puts his success and development to date down to his mentor Al Whitelaw. Tom is very much looking forward to racing at the World Youth Cup and aims to gain more England vests in the future.
- Jack Sanderson (Alastair Scholey, Settle) – Jack was 8th at last year’s International Mountain Running Youth Cup and is looking to better that position this year, aspiring for the podium. He was British and Irish U17 Mountain Running Champion in 2024. This will be Jack’s seventh International; he represented Great Britain twice in 2024, in the ‘Uphill Only’ and ‘Up and Down’ races at the U20 European Off-Road Championships. Recently he was 2nd at the English Schools' XC Championships.
- Jay Hutchinson (Mike Hutchinson, Trafford AC) - This will be Jay's third England vest. He finished 2nd in the 2024 Junior Home Countries Champs as well as winning the Inter-Counties and the England trial fell race. He was 6th in the English Schools' 1500m Steeplechase. This winter, Jay finished 6th in the National XC Championships and took bronze at the World Youth Cup trial race.
U18 Women
- Millie Jebb (Rob Jebb, Helm Hill Runners) – Millie earns her second England vest after an excellent performance to win the trial race. She made her England debut at the 2024 Junior Home International in Ireland and was part of the gold winning team.
- Isla Pastor (Sarah and Ronan Kearney, Warriors PAC) – Isla is just 15 years old but earns her second England vest after a solid run in the trial race to finish 2nd. She made her England debut in 2024 at the JHI in Ireland where she won individual bronze and helped England to team gold.
- Izzy-Mai Wilson (John Wood, Dark Peak Fell Runners) – Izzy-Mai has earned her third England vest after a great run to finish 3rd at the trial race. She made her England debut at the 2023 JHI in Scotland where the U17 women won team silver and will be returning to the International U18 Mountain Running Cup for the second time.
- Graihagh Turner (Paddy Wright, Penistone Runners) - This will be Graihagh’s fourth England vest and her second time competing at the International U18 Mountain Running Cup, with high hopes to improve on the excellent 15th position of 2024. Last year she won the U17 JHI race in Ireland and helped England to team gold.
We wish them all the best for a successful race and new experiences!
Photo by Jon Rylance