WATCH - Inverness athlete Megan Keith thrilled to win silver medal at European Championship
Inverness athlete Megan Keith claimed a silver medal in the Under-23 European Cross Country Championships in Italy.
The 20-year-old finished in second place in Turin on Sunday in a time of 20 minutes and eight seconds on the six kilometre course.
She was 13 seconds behind race winner Nadia Battocletti from Italy who took victory in 19:55.
Keith was well clear of third place Alexandra Millard from Great Britain who took bronze in 20:27.
Keith kept pace with Battocletti until the final lap when the Italian athlete pulled away. But Keith was still pleased with her performance.
"I was so happy, Nadia is such an insane runner I thought that if I came second I have pretty much won for myself. I am buzzing.
"I wanted to hang in as long as I could, but she is phenomenal.
"I knew her move would come and I wanted to cover her the best I could, I am happy with how I responded, but she had another gear."
She says it was a tough course in Turin but adapted to the challenge well.
"It's brutal, coming from Scotland I thought I knew brutal cross country but those hills are killers.
One of the steepest inclines was just a mudslide and staying on my feet felt like a win going up there."
Keith says she is now planning for the indoor season, but says claiming silver at the European Championship was a great way to end the cross country season.
"It's a neverending season, I will give indoors a shot but this ends the season on a high for me."
