Tawney teams up to win GB silver at World Masters Championships

More than 8,000 athletes from 114 countries aged from 35 to 86 took part in the two-week championships, with Tawney joining fellow Great Britain W55 athletes Claire Donald and Marilyn Blair for the cross-country, run over a four-lap 8k course.

Donald clocked 31:14 to finish second, with Blair seventh in 34:03 and Tawney (34:21) eighth.

“We thought it was gold,” said Tawney. “On positions we won, but when they added the times together the Americans beat us by 13 seconds.”

Tawney also ran in the 5,000m on day four, when thermometers were showing 40 degrees.

It was even hotter in the stadium with the sun reflecting off the surface and organisers had to install showers on the track and provide a water station.

“I have never had that in a track race before,” added Tawney, who came eighth in the A final in 21:28.

“I was happy with eighth but not the time.

“The time I clocked in the British Championships would have been good enough for the bronze medal, but everyone’s times were about a minute slower due to the intense heat.

“I was just happy to finish.”