Oxford City middle-distance star Hannah England is set to have a final crack at the European Cross Country Championships this winter – but will not compete at the World Indoor Championships in Doha in March.
England, who was guest of honour at Oxford City’s youth presentation evening at Kidlington’s Exeter Hall on Friday, believes she has learned a lot from her experiences of this year.
And she has high hopes for more success in the next 12 months, despite the huge disappointment of missing out on competing in this year’s World Championships.
After a winter of cross country, England has opted not to compete in Qatar.
Instead she will return to the United States for warm-weather training in Florida ahead of a big year of outdoor competition.
She said: “I’m really keen to have one last go at the cross country and get a GB vest for the Europeans in Dublin in December.
“The trials are in November in Liverpool, and this is the last chance I will have as an under 23.
“After that, I’m going to focus completely on the track, because we’ve got the European Championships and Commonwealth Games next year, which are my main goals.
“I don’t feel doing the world indoors will particuarly help me. I enjoyed the European indoors this year, but I really need to focus on the outdoor season.”
England presented trophies to Oxford City’s rising stars at a packed Exeter Hall, and was delighted with how her club has grown.
Modestly, though, England did not believe that her exploits, or those of teammate Nathan Douglas, were the reason that the Oxford City club has continued to thrive.
“It’s really nice to be asked back, and I’m delighted how big the club has become,” she added.
“It would be nice if some of my success drives some of the youngsters on, but I don’t really think it’s down to me or Nathan.
“The 2012 Olympics has really got athletics going, and I think that’s why there are so many youngsters involved now, and it’s great to see Oxford City doing so well.”
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