Small grabs top 40 in World Cross Country Champs

Team captain Claire Duck came in 63rd with Emily Hosker-Thornhill 90th, while Rebecca Murray finished an impressive 42nd – three places behind Small – as she continues her transition to being a senior athlete.

Coached by Mick Woods, Small finished 29th as a junior at the 2011 World Cross Country Championships, so she knew what to expect of a world-class field, and she was pleased with her performance.

"It was tough and it was hot out there, but I'm proud of the way we battled as individuals and as a team," she said.

"The pace was quick from the off, but obviously we expected that to be the case, so it was a case of making sure we kept our cool and ran our own races regardless of what was going on in front or behind.

"Overall I'm pleased with the finish, and both the race and the championships have been a fantastic experience."

Sportsbeat 2017