Top runner Charlotte is world class for team GB

A RUNNER from Cardiff will compete against some of the best distance athletes in the world today representing Great Britain at the World Half Marathon Championships.

Charlotte Arter is one of just five women picked for the GB team in the international race in Valencia, Spain.

The 26 year old, who runs Cardiff University’s High Performance Programme, was selected after finishing third in London’s Big Half race on March 4 with a personal best of 71 minutes and 31 seconds.

“I’m really excited. It’s always an honour to represent Great Britain and this will be the first time I’ve represented GB on the road,” said Charlotte, who has previously represented GB at cross-country.

“It’s a team event and there are five Great Britain girls with three of us scoring. My aim is to be a scoring athlete for the GB team and place as high as possible.”

The previous World Half Marathon Championships took place in Cardiff in 2016.

Charlotte ran the Cardiff event in 73:16 – a quick time but some way behind her current personal best.

She has been fitting in her training regime around her full-time job as Cardiff University’s performance sports officer.

Charlotte trains twice a day, clocking up 80 to 85 miles a week running.

As well as concentrating on her own race Charlotte is tracking the progress of athletes from Cardiff’s High Performance Programme which she works with.

“We’ve got 50 athletes on the programme this year and they compete at national or international level. There are 20 different sports from the more conventional ones such as hockey and rugby to others such as rifle shooting and fencing.

“Five of them are going off to the Commonwealth Games in Australia in April.

“I’m in work nine to five and they’re in lectures nine to five and they know the level I’m at so they can relate to me and I can relate to them.”

Charlotte, who is from Cumbria originally, has just qualified to represent Wales through residency and is looking forward to having the opportunity in future to run for her adopted country. ABBIE WIGHTWICK Education Editor abbie.wightwick@mediawales.co.uk