Izzy Fry sets a new personal best - twice!

Newbury Athletic Club's Izzy Fry ran a personal best time of 15:47.60 to finish sixth in the 5000m final in the UK Athletics Championships in Manchester on Saturday, June 25.

She then proceeded to smash that personal best on Wednesday, June 30, in Liege, Belgium, when she came home in 15:21, a 26 second improvement on her Manchester time.

The time qualifies for the European Athletics Championships which take place in Munich in August.

On Tuesday night, just after she'd landed in Liege, Fry spoke to Newbury Weekly News.

She said: "I was really happy with how I raced, I had to open up my season a little later than usual because I caught Covid in April and then had a stomach virus.

"It was actually my first 5000 metres of the season, so it went pretty well.

"I've never been in such a tactical 5000 metre race before, so to be in and amongst it was really fun, even if the burn up towards the end was tough.

"I was over the moon to come sixth, I took some really big positives for the future."

Fry, who was crowned World University Cross Country champion in March, has been based in Manchester since last year as part of the New Balance team.

"I've been really enjoying my time in Manchester with my new coach, Helen Clitheroe," she said.

Fry's recent successes, however, are a result of years of hard work – lots of which took place with her coach at Newbury AC, Andy Tuttle.

She said: "The hard work consistently over the years, with Andy Tuttle at Newbury AC and then at university and then in Manchester, it all adds up.

"It's been years of practice, last year's been another really good one in terms of training."

Fry is preparing for a hectic summer schedule – after Belgium, she'll travel to St Moritz for a three week altitude camp.

"It's been a manic few weeks, especially when it comes to packing!" she said.

In the longer term, Fry is targetting an Olympics, be that in two years in Paris or six years in Los Angeles.

She said: "I like to think long term, almost in four year cycles.

"The Olympics has always been the dream, but I know there are so many challenges to overcome to get there."

Fry, 21, has time on her side and, as her run in Manchester proves, she's got talent, too.