From Cross-Country Trial to Team GB: Finn’s Journey to the European Championships
Perse student Finn enjoyed a breakthrough athletics season this summer, securing selection for Great Britain at the European Athletics Under-18 Championships in Italy.
After achieving qualifying standards in both the 1500m and 3000m, he went on to finish eighth in Europe and reflect on a journey that began with a cross-country trial at the School just three years ago.
One of the defining moments of Finn’s season came during a break in his GCSE exam timetable, when he travelled to Birmingham aiming to break 3 minutes 50 seconds for the 1500m.
“I thought 3:50 might still be a long way off,” he recalled. “Then I ran 3:48.”
The performance placed him among the leading Under-18 athletes in Europe at the time and gave him confidence heading into the rest of the season. A few weeks later, Finn stepped up to the 3000m for the first time. Although it was a completely new distance for him, he produced an impressive time of 8:17, comfortably inside the qualifying standard for the European Championships and enough to place him at the top of the Year 11 rankings. With qualifying times secured, Finn headed to the British trials in Cardiff, where athletes needed both the qualifying standard and a top-two finish to secure selection.
Ranked second going into the event, he delivered when it mattered most, finishing as runner-up and earning his place on the Great Britain team.
“It wasn’t even an exceptional race,” he said. “It was just good enough. I was in the shape I needed to be in and I managed to qualify.”
With selection confirmed, his attention turned entirely to preparing for Italy. That commitment included the difficult decision to miss English Schools, traditionally one of the highlights of the athletics calendar, because it fell just days before the championships. By the time race day arrived in Rieti, temperatures were still around 30°C in the evening. Competing in challenging conditions against some of the strongest young distance runners in Europe, Finn rose to the occasion to finish strongly in the 3000m final.
“I came eighth and it was better than I was ranked, so I can’t complain,” he reflected.
Representing Great Britain proved to be memorable both on and off the track. Alongside the opportunity to wear Team GB colours, Finn was able to spend several days at the championships supporting fellow athletes and enjoying the atmosphere of a major international competition.
While this summer marked a significant milestone, Finn’s athletics journey began much closer to home. Shortly after joining the School in Year 9, he took part in a cross-country time trial that would ultimately change the course of his athletics journey. Encouraged by Perse staff to pursue running more seriously, he later joined Cambridge & Coleridge Athletics Club and quickly began to make an impression. Early success came as something of a surprise.
“I managed to win Counties, which was a massive shock,” Finn said. “I’d never expected that.”
It was at that competition that he met his coach at The Perse, Ric, who invited him to train with the club. Looking back, Finn sees that moment as a turning point.
“Since then it’s been genuinely onwards and upwards.”
Reflecting on his experiences so far, Finn believes success comes from focusing on each step along the way rather than looking too far ahead.
“It’s very much one foot in front of the other,” he said. “You can only do one thing at a time.”
For Finn, one of the most important lessons he has learnt through athletics has been to enjoy the process rather than focus solely on the destination.
“You’ve got to enjoy the journey,” he said. “I enjoy getting out for a run and the freedom of the movement. If you want to do well in sport, you have to enjoy it.”
The next challenge will be the cross-country season, where Finn hopes to help a strong Perse team compete for honours in the English Schools Cup. Beyond that, he has set his sights on qualifying for the European Under-20 Championships, despite competing against athletes up to two years older.
For now, Finn can look back on an extraordinary summer representing Great Britain and competing against Europe’s best young athletes. From a Year 9 cross-country trial to an eighth-place finish at the European Championships, he has made exceptional progress. Well done, Finn!