Through mud, injury and determination: Lincoln's cross country sensation looks forward to bright future after England debut

After months of setbacks, Lincoln's Sophie Bowser reflects on finally earning her England stripes Racing for your country sounds glamorous – the kind of moment every athlete dreams of. The white and red national vest, the pride of representing England, the excitement of stepping onto an international stage. But for Sophie Bowser, her long-awaited debut couldn’t have been further from that romantic ideal. The 34-year-old cross-country runner, from Lincoln, faced a gruelling 7.92k slog through brutal conditions of the CrossCup de Hannut in Belgium last month, battling a “complete mud bath.” It was, in her own words, “the worst conditions I have ever raced in”. Sophie (white vest) racing at the CrossCup de Hannut - provided by Ian Boyle And all of this after spending months side-lined by injury. Since the beginning of September, the Lincoln Wellingon Athletics Club runner has been battling a calf injury, and her England call up a...