University of Birmingham runner Kristian Imroth has just missed out on qualification for the European cross-country championships
The trials were held at Sefton Park in Liverpool on November 27.
Imroth is one of UOB’s top under-20 athletes and having set numerous personal bests on the track last summer the Hertfordshire athlete could continue his promising form leading into the 6.5km race.
However, with weeks of battling COVID and only having five weeks of training leading up to the championships, it was clear that even a podium finish could be beyond him. And so it proved as the 19-year-old finished in a respectable seventh place in 20:29, one spot behind the automatic places to race in Dublin next month.
Imroth said: “The race surprisingly felt really good, it was quick and he (McLuckie) is on a different level at the moment as he showed in the race.
“It was tough, in my head I was thinking the whole time top six, top six, that’s where I’ve got to be.
“Mid-race when (Henry) McLuckie put that kick in I thought that I couldn’t go with it and that this is going to be tough, by then I was racing for one spot.
“It’s frustrating, of course I really wanted to get into the squad but someone’s got to finish seventh, and unfortunately that was me.”
Imroth’s centre of attention now shifts to the next cross challenge fixture at Loughborough (Prestworld Hall), on March 12.
University of Birmingham’s British track athlete Kristian Imroth
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