Izzy Fry sets sights on European Cross Country Championships

Izzy Fry’s winter season is well underway.

The Newbury athlete enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2024, setting four personal bests in the 5000m.

She starred at the European Championships, where she took home an incredible ninth place finish.

She was the highest ranking Brit in Rome, clocking the first sub-fifteen minute time of her career at 14:59.63.

She went on to set another PB in Vienna, capping off a season of progress.

After a well earned break, Fry’s winter season is already in full swing, as she competes in cross country events all over the country.

Fry is a former World University champion in the sport, winning gold in Aveiro, Portugal in 2022.

“I finished my track season pretty late,” Fry explained.

“It ended well into September, which is unusual for me.

“It meant that my off-season was also slightly later, so I’ve gone into this season with a different mindset.

“Cross country is maybe less of a priority this year, because we didn’t want to put pressure on rushing back to full fitness.”

Fry has already made a solid start to her winter season.

“I had my first race in Cardiff and it went as expected, nothing ground-breaking, but I was pleased with it considering where I’m at.

“This weekend is the European trials in Liverpool. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to make the team.

“The European Championships in Turkey two weeks after is definitely a goal, but there’s less pressure this year.”

Not all track athletes compete through the entire year like Fry does, and she believes that this gives her some advantages.

“I’ve always said that it’s a fundamental part of my build-up,” she said.

“It helps you get strong and takes that focus away from times. You race for the sake of racing.

“It’s just getting out in a muddy field and doing what I love.

“This is how I fell in love with the sport.”

Fry is looking to level up once again when the track season comes around, with plans already being made.

“I’ll look to improve every aspect of what I do,” she said.

“I’ll mainly focus on consistency, that’s what reaps the rewards.

“If I race at the European Championships in cross country, then I’ll head to South Africa in January for an altitude and heat training camp.

“I’ll be out there for a month, it’ll allow me to focus more on the indoor season.

“Then I’ll head to Boston and do a couple of races in America to kick-start the 2025 season.

“The World Championships in Tokyo are in September, so it’s a long season this year.

“Ultimately that’s the main goal, it’s all geared towards running well at the back end of the summer.

“We’re putting in the foundations for what could be an exciting summer.”