LIZZIE LEE HAILED the performances of her Irish team-mates after they secured a magnificent team bronze at the European cross-country championships in Hyeres, France.
The 35 year-old Cork woman was part of the team who claimed gold in Budapest three years ago and yesterday’s achievement was further proof that Irish female athletes are among the best in Europe.
“We’ve raised the profile of running with the team win and it’s not a surprise we came here and got some bling,” beamed the Leevale athlete.
“I never said it out loud before but I knew we were in contention for silver or bronze and I knew Fionnuala (McCormack) would be in top five shape.
“There’s probably a group of 30 girls in Ireland now and any one of us could have made the team for this. Any one of us could have been there to get the medals but what’s made this so lovely is despite the competition for places, the camaraderie between us is amazing.
The text messages we’ve got from girls who’ve been on the team over the last few years, who didn’t make it means so much.
“I’ve just replied to Sarah Collins in the States who was in Budapest with us and Theresa (McDaid), at the team talk last night, listed out the Linda Byrnes and the Ava Hutchinsons and all these people who had contacted her to wish us the best of luck. That means so much.”
Lee was 13th today, an incredible result for a woman of her age.
“I had notions of top 15 but it’s absolutely lovely because we could have come fourth so to get the bling at the end, for me personally at the end of the most amazing year ever, I didn’t even think cross country was ever even on the cards, it’s lovely.
I’m loving this, absolutely loving it. I couldn’t have gotten more craic out of today and being made team captain last night made be so proud. It was the icing on the cake.
Lee is very much the mother of the group and knows her time at this level will not go on forever.
But she still has a few boxes to tick yet.
“I don’t harbour notions of running at this level when I’m 44. I know it’s finite and I’d love to get to the Olympics in Rio but for now, I’ve two European medals, a number of Irish caps, I’ve captained a team who medalled at a majors. What more could you want from your career?
“I’m 35 now and I’m top 15 in Europe, I’ll take that any day.
I’ll take a bit of down time now and then build for the world half-marathon championships at the end of March in the new year.
“I have to prove form in terms of selection for Rio in March or April so I’ll try and use the world half-marathon championships for that. It’s a flat course and a stone’s throw away and I’ve never ran a major championships on the road so that’s still on my radar.”