Harrier Howarth heads to Sweden for indoor title tilt (From Leigh Journal)

Harrier Howarth heads to Sweden for indoor title tilt

12:18pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in Sport

LEIGH Harriers ace Lauren Howarth, pictured, will race for Great Britain and Ireland in the European Indoor Track and Field Championships, which start tomorrow, Friday, in Gothenburg.

The 22-year-old medical student at St Mary’s University is the current British indoor 3000m champion, winning in Sheffield in a personal best time of 8mins 56secs.

She then improved that time at the British Indoor Grand Prix, running 8mins 52secs to take 18 seconds off her best time over the two races.

That form has gained her selection as one of only 16 athletes to represent Great Britain in Sweden.

This will be Howarth’s first representative honours indoors, having represented GB on the track and in cross country previously.

She will create club history by being the first senior woman to represent Great Britain at a European Indoor Championships.

The championships will be televised by the BBC, with heats and finals of Howarth’s event taking place on Saturday and Sunday.