A teenage Burnham-On-Sea runner is set to compete for England this weekend.
Luke Prior, a former King Alfred School pupil, has qualified to run for his country at Spain’s Venta de Banos International Cross Country Meeting on Sunday, 17 December.
The Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños is held in Castile and León – it was first held in 1980 and since then has been held every year in mid-December.
Among the past winners are international athletes, including former World Cross Country Champions Kenenisa Bekele and Gelete Burka, plus Marta Domínguez and Isaac Viciosa, both former European Champions.
Luke was told he’d qualified by England Athletics following a strong run at the British Cross Challenge in Liverpool in November.
He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am really happy to have been selected to run for my country in Spain. My goal is a top three-finish.”
“This race comes at the end of my university term so preparation has been perfect. I would like to give a big thank you to everyone who has supported me and a big thank you to Simon Prior, and Mick Woods at St Mary’s Uni who together have both worked hard in coaching me.”
“I am looking forward to coming home over Christmas and New Year see you out on the roads training.”
