TRAINING
AMILE above sea level in Albuquerque, New Mexico, future stars of track, field, and country are busy honing their craft. The University of New Mexico’s NCAA Division I programme offers 16 varsity sports, but it is its female athletes – known as “the Lobos” – who are currently achieving most success. The Lobos’ women’s cross-country team dominated last November’s national finals with talented British athletes featuring among the leading scorers.
New Mexico: the Joe Franklin-coached squad credit team spirit as a major determinant of their success
Alice Wright from Worcester, Scotland’s Rhona Auckland, Hallamshire’s Calli Thackery and Molly Renfer, who is originally from Surrey, were all within the first 25 to finish, helping the team to post a winning score of 49, the lowest achieved since 1982. It wasn’t only on the country that they excelled, the squad achieving some brilliant runs out on the track, hot on the heels of several compelling indoor performances.
Courtney Frerichs: competes in Rio this month after finishing second in the US Trials 3000m steeplechase