Great Britain & Northern Ireland Win Mixed Relay

By mitchpa on December 17, 2021 • ( 0 )

by Clay Shaw

Dublin, Ireland, European Cross Country, Mixed Relay, December 12, 2021—Olympic 800-meter runner Alexandra Bell brought the Great Britain team from seventh to first on the third lap of the mixed relay. Benjamin West took the final lap and had a solid run to take the team title in 18:01. Hannah Nuttall and Luke Duffy ran the first laps, before Bell took ten seconds back on the field in lap three.

Clara Mageean put Ireland in the lead on the first lap, with Lore Hoffman of Switzerland, and Lili Anna Toth of Hungary in the top three. As the men took over on lap two, France and Belgium began to move up. On the final lap behind Great Britain, a three-team sprint for the two podium spots was on. Alexis Miellett of France was the fastest on lap four, and just edged out Belgium’s Stijn Baeten, and Ireland’s Andrew Coscoran.

The sun actually came out for a bit during the race. Thankfully, the wind and rain that was predicted, did not take place.

TEAM REACTIONS AFTER THE RACE

Great Britain – Gold Medal Team Mixed Relay

Hannah Nuttall: “It was absolutely brutal! I’ve never had a start so fast in my life, it was ridiculous I was just hanging in there. Luke Duffy: “It was good, it was a fast start, everyone flew off! I thought stay patient and use the hills and I knew people would come back to me, and it worked!” Alexandra Bell: “I’m so proud of these guys, everyone put the work in, to have all those people supporting you… I’ve not heard a stage and an audience like that in so long, it was unbelievable!” Benjamin West: “I was so nervous when Alex got in the lead, I´ve got to hold it now. I took off and I was knackered by 400 metres in, I was like Oh Dear, they are going to come back for me, but happy to take the win!” Luke Duffy: “Coming in to this Winter we didn’t expect to be European Champions, we are both quite young. We thought we would let me and Hannah try keep us in it, let Alex, a top level athlete with her experience do the business, and Ben was always going to have to hold it, and he did – we’re buzzing!”

France – Silver Medal Team Mixed Relay

Alexa Lemitre: “This was a really good race, with many high-quality athletes. We all came out very fast and strong, but it was tough to manage how different teams were responding, but I tried my best to finish in a good position before the transition.” Alexis Miellet: “I had the last leg, and it wasn’t easy because I had the wind against me, and I already started a few second behind, and had to come out stronger than I had planned. I actually had to refocus and compose myself, and waited for the last 100 meters to attack, as this was our chance to fight for the medal.”

Ireland – 4th Place Mixed Relay (Host Country)

Andrew Coscoran: “We’re disappointed, definitely disappointed. We came in ranked pretty well, tying for first in the rankings, so we had it in our head we were going to go for the gold, and unfortunately, we fell short today.”

Luke McCann: “The plan was to get the baton to Andrew in contention, because we know what he is capable of, he’s the number one 1500m runner in the country and one of the best in Europe. Ciara did exactly what she was asked to do, get out strong and get off to a good start. I didn’t really expect to be in the lead coming around that lap, but I just tried my best to hold on and give it off to Siofra in a good position, but look that’s sport, someone has to come fourth at the end of the day. We went for first and we have absolutely no regrets.”

Mixed Relay Team Results