Donnelly Wins GB’s First Women’s Marathon Medal at Europeans

Abbie Donnelly became the first British woman to win an individual marathon medal at the European Championships as she took bronze in Birmingham on Sunday.
Great Britain also secured a team gold, beating Italy and Spain to the top of the podium as Natasha Wilson finished fifth and Rose Harvey 14th.
The previous highest finish by a female British marathon runner at a European Championships came from Kath Binns who placed ninth in 1982.
In two hours 27 minutes 33 seconds, Lincolnshire runner Donnelly crossed the line behind Hungary’s Lili Anna Vindics-Toth, while Finnish favourite Alisa Vainio took gold in 2:22:26, beating the previous championship record by nearly three minutes.
Great Britain’s women’s team marathon triumph delivered the nation’s seventh overall gold at the championships, leaving them one shy of leaders Italy going into the final evening of action.
“It means everything to do this here in Birmingham,” said Donnelly, formerly a cross country runner, of her marathon achievement.
“I’ve never done a home champs before so to have the crowd shout ‘Abbie Donnelly’ was an incredible experience.”
With Vainio striking out alone early in the race, team-mates Donnelly and Wilson had each other for company in the chasing pack for much of the race, which the bronze medallist said was a “massive” help.
It was Vindics-Toth who made the decisive break, before Donnelly followed, holding on through an uphill climb to the finish line and crossing 12 seconds after the Hungarian.