Fry proves she can mix it with the best as she helps Britain to European gold medal

Newbury Athletic Club's Izzy Fry capped her comeback from a serious foot injury as she helped Great Britain win the European Cross Country Championship in Brussels at the weekend.

The 23-year-old, who missed around six months after sustaining a high grade tear in her plantar fascia at the Trafford 10k in March, finished 10th at the race in the Belgian capital, making her the third and final scorer for the victorious British team.

Fry, who was racing as a senior for the first time, booked her spot in Brussels thanks to a blistering third placed finish at a qualifying race in Liverpool last month and continued her fine form as she finished in the top 10, completing the scoring alongside compatriots Abbie Donnelly, who was third, and Jess Judd, who was fifth.

Following a challenging year in which she has struggled for confidence and fitness while also switching from Team New Balance Manchester to Loughborough University, Fry admitted she was overjoyed to end on such a high.

“To finish 10th on my senior debut, I couldn’t ask for more than that,” she said.

“It made it even more special getting to count as a scorer for the team where we took home the gold medal.

“It was the hardest race I’ve ever run. The mud was so draining and at points it felt almost impossible not to get stuck.

“I wanted to prove to myself that I am tough enough to compete with the best in Europe.”