The future's bright for Fry
Newbury Athletic Club’s Izzy Fry is “over the moon” after it was announced that the athlete has been selected for the England Athletics senior talent programme for 2023.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed an impressive year in which she was crowned World University Championship Cross Country champion and ran personal best times at both 3000 and 5000 metres, smashing her 5000m p.b. by a staggering 26 seconds.
Fry has been part of the junior talent programme and is now hoping to kick on as she attempts to challenge at the elite end of senior athletics, with an eye on Commonwealth and perhaps even Olympic success.
The news is set to leave Fry, who will be working and training at Leeds Beckett’s Talent Hub, well placed in her race to the top as she looks to make her mark on senior GB teams.
“I’m delighted, it’s really good news, it’s nice to feel like the hard work is paying off and I’m going in the right direction,” Fry said.
“I’m very grateful to have been selected, I know from being part of the junior programme that there are so many benefits to working with England Athletics, hopefully it can help me get to the next level.
“It’s about support and guidance in loads of different respects, we’ll work on technique, strategies and psychology, I’ve already been up in Leeds and it gives me access to things I’d never have had if I hadn’t been on the programme.”
As Fry prepares to show under-23 racing a clean pair of heels and make the daunting step up to elite level she’s focused on the long-term plan, wherever that might take her.
She said: “At my age I’m still working on seeing the big picture, I’ve still got a long time left in the sport to look forward to.
“Inevitably we think in four year cycles with the Olympics, that’s the big dream so everything is working towards that.
“In the shorter term we break things down into smaller blocks and I’m trying to improve season on season as we go from cross country to track and back again.”
Running is an individual sport that requires a considerable team behind the athlete, and Fry is confident she’s got the perfect people in her corner.
“I’m so grateful for all the people that support me, from my sponsors at Energy Saving Lighting, my New Balance team in Manchester and everybody back at home at Newbury AC, who are always cheering me on,” she said.
“Hopefully I can keep representing them and keep making them proud as we look towards the new year.”
It’s been a year of highlights for Fry that’s given her the belief she needs to go on and achieve similar success in 2023 as she begins her partnership with England Athletics’ senior programme.
“I had a couple of real breakthroughs this year and that’s what spurs me on to keep going and looking to improve,” she said.
“I’m keeping the dream alive, it’s exciting.”
