January 2026: Performance round up

2026 has started hot out the blocks with great performances throughout January. From our first indoor championships of the year to England teams competing across Europe, let’s look back at all the action.

An electric start to the 2026 indoor season

With places at the Swedish Combined Events Championships up for grabs, athletes from across the country brought their A-game to the England Indoor Combined Event Championships. Following lots of personal bests and tight competition, the four England Combined Event national titles went to Isla Pain (Cheltenham, Paul Harrison), Anna McCauley (City of Sheffield and Dearne), Arthur Reilly (City of Sheffield and Dearne, Brendan Reilly) and Lewis Church (Tonbridge, David Hull).

Elsewhere there were great performances in the race walking and para championships as athletes fought for national titles.

A small team travelled to Reykjavik to represent England at the Reykjavik Games. The team excelled both on the track and in the field with many athletes achieving indoor personal bests and they brought back nine medals in total.

Competitive cross country performances

Four England teams headed to Elgoibar in Northern Spain to take on some of the world’s best cross country runners at the Elgoibar Gold Series Cross Country. All the athletes gave it their all and the junior men’s and women’s teams excelled claiming three individual medals: gold for Rory Barclay-Watt (Exeter Harriers), silver for Ewan Busfield (Derby AC) and bronze for Katie Pye (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC, Mick Woods).

In January, four England teams headed to Hannut, Belgium for the latest fixture in the EngeryVision CrossCup. In unusually dry conditions, all the athletes put in strong performances for their team. Three athletes secured individual podium spots in the junior races: gold for Michael Clark (City of Norwich), silver for Jack Marwood (Salford Harriers AC, Ian Grime) and silver for Maisey Bellwood (Keighley & Craven AC)!

There’s plenty more athletics and running action in the coming weeks with England teams due to compete at:

• Växjö Throws International: 7 February
• Home Countries International Cross Country: 7 February
• Swedish Combined Event Championships: 7-8 February
• Dubai WPA (Para) Grand Prix: 10-13 February
• Armagh International Road Races: 12 February
• Winter Long Throws Championships: 28 February-1 March
• Anglo Celtic Plate 100km: 21 March