British hopes rest on the shoulders of Megan Keith, 23, as she prepares to lead a depleted British team at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida. The European Under-23 title holder has always considered herself primarily a cross-country athlete, but her recent shift towards track running has left her struggling to balance her passion for the discipline with the expectations of sponsors and British Athletics.
A lack of financial incentive is critical, as funding from British Athletics is linked specifically to track and road performances in Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. This means that athletes like Keith must sacrifice their love for cross-country to focus on more lucrative events. Despite this, Keith remains committed to the sport she grew up with, and her recent European 10,000m bronze has earned her British Athletics funding.
Keith's experiences highlight the decline of cross-country in popularity, as the number of participants at the top level has fallen significantly since its heyday in the early 2000s. The discipline is now seen as little more than a stepping stone to other events, with many nations not sending athletes and others taking skeleton teams.
However, there is hope for the future. World Athletics president Lord Coe has long advocated for cross-country's inclusion in the Winter Olympics, and Britain is formulating bids to host multiple international cross-country championships over the next few years. Eamonn Martin, secretary of the English Cross Country Association, believes that hosting more competitions could be a game-changer, potentially leading to increased funding and recognition for the sport.
As Keith takes on her new role as leader of the British team at Tallahassee, she will be hoping to inspire a resurgence in cross-country's popularity. With its rich history and unique challenges, the discipline has a lot to offer athletes who are passionate about running in a more traditional, rugged environment. Whether Keith can rally the troops and lead Britain to success remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – she will be giving it her all on January 10th.
A lack of financial incentive is critical, as funding from British Athletics is linked specifically to track and road performances in Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. This means that athletes like Keith must sacrifice their love for cross-country to focus on more lucrative events. Despite this, Keith remains committed to the sport she grew up with, and her recent European 10,000m bronze has earned her British Athletics funding.
Keith's experiences highlight the decline of cross-country in popularity, as the number of participants at the top level has fallen significantly since its heyday in the early 2000s. The discipline is now seen as little more than a stepping stone to other events, with many nations not sending athletes and others taking skeleton teams.
However, there is hope for the future. World Athletics president Lord Coe has long advocated for cross-country's inclusion in the Winter Olympics, and Britain is formulating bids to host multiple international cross-country championships over the next few years. Eamonn Martin, secretary of the English Cross Country Association, believes that hosting more competitions could be a game-changer, potentially leading to increased funding and recognition for the sport.
As Keith takes on her new role as leader of the British team at Tallahassee, she will be hoping to inspire a resurgence in cross-country's popularity. With its rich history and unique challenges, the discipline has a lot to offer athletes who are passionate about running in a more traditional, rugged environment. Whether Keith can rally the troops and lead Britain to success remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – she will be giving it her all on January 10th.
I think its sad that its become so hard for Megan Keith to do whats best for herself as a cross-country athlete. I mean, shes always been passionate about the sport and now shes being forced to compromise just to keep up with the financial demands of British Athletics 
. Its like they're treating her like a product or something instead of a genuine athlete who loves what she does. Maybe its time for them to rethink their priorities and focus on supporting athletes like Megan who are still passionate about cross-country 
, gotta be super tough balancing her passion with what sponsors want. I wish they could find a way to make cross-country more financially viable so athletes can focus on the sport they love 
. It's crazy how it's seen as a stepping stone these days... I mean, who wants to just compete in a few events and then be done with it? 
. Maybe we'll see more athletes like Keith getting the recognition they deserve 
i mean british athletics has been pushing athletes towards track & field events, and its affecting the number of participants in cross country - i think we need more initiatives to get kids involved again 
️ and lord coe's push for olympic inclusion is a great step forward! hosting international championships can definitely bring in some cash 
but at the end of the day its gotta be about the love of the sport, not just the prize money 
... it's all about the benjamins, right? 
. i mean, don't get me wrong, british athletics needs funding too, but can't they find a way to support athletes in all disciplines, not just the ones that bring in the most cash? 
. but i'm hopeful with lord coe's bid to include cross-country in the winter olympics and eamonn martin's plan to host more international comps... maybe, just maybe, things will start to pick up 
, the pressure to perform is huge and its not just about winning a medal, its about balancing her passion with what sponsors want from her 
, and if british athletes can rally behind keith, it could be a game changer 
Can't believe British Athletics has reduced cross-country to a stepping stone for trackies 
. I mean, who needs passion and dedication when you can have Olympic funding 
It's like they're trying to suck the soul out of the sport 
. Still, gotta give credit where it's due - Megan Keith is a trooper for sticking with cross-country despite the financial struggles 
. Maybe this whole Winter Olympics thing will be the wake-up call the discipline needs 
? Fingers crossed!