"I really love cross country!" says GTB after nationals

Supertri world champion Georgia Taylor-Brown continued her off-season preparation with a mud-spattered run in the National Cross Country Championships last weekend.

GTB finished a superb 9th from the 830-strong field that tackled treacherous conditions around the five-mile Parliament Hill course in London. 

She trailed cross country specialist Jess Gibbons by just over two minutes, who claimed her second national title to go with her silver medal from last year’s European team event in Türkiye. 

“I always knew I loved cross country but this just solidified my feelings,” Georgia said in a Facebook post. “I really love cross country!  

“I want to be able to run this race forever. I smiled my way around that entire 8km.  

“It’s made so much more fun with all the support on the course and I just love the freshness and simplicity of it all: shorts, vest & spikes and you’re good to go!  

I started my racing days at these events. I’ve done everything from local area races all the way to the Olympic Games, but these open events, that anyone can enter, will always hold a special place in my heart: standing on the start-line with women racing for the win, racing in their first race back after injury, starting their first race or racing with their girlies & taking selfies along the way, I love it all.” 

The Droylsden athlete still hasn’t finalised her 2025 plans, but this unexpected cross country appearance follows on from a gruelling 205km two-day showing at the Santa Vall bike race in Spain last month as she eyes up longer-distance events.