The University of Exeter has a long and illustrious history of sporting prowess. Many of us currently studying here would have no trouble in reeling off Exter alumni who currently play, or have played, at the highest levels of rugby and cricket. But one current Exeter student is making seismic waves in the world of athletics: Innes Fitzgerald.
In early February, Innes travelled to Ostrava, to race the 3000m as part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold. With little indoor experience prior to this year and being known largely for her exploits on the cross-country circuit, few would have expected the performance that followed in Czechia. The Exeter first-year laid down a historic time of 8:40.05, a new European under-20 indoor record. This remarkable performance took ten seconds off the previous European record, held by Sofia Thøgersen, and sixteen seconds off the previous British record, held by Zola Budd for the past forty years.
Shortly after her performance in Ostrava, I interviewed Innes, on behalf of Exeposé, to get her thoughts on the record-breaking race, her aims for the rest of the year, and a nugget of golden advice for up-and-coming young athletes.
How were you feeling going into this season? Were you feeling confident?
“Winter training had been going well. We had been training on a mixture of grass and the track so it is always hard to know for sure how that’s going to translate onto the indoor track and different cross country courses, but I was feeling good in sessions and that’s what gives me the most confidence going into races.”
Walk me through your record-breaking run in Ostrava. Was there a specific point during the race where you knew you were on for something special?
“After running 8:48.30 over the 3000m in Cardiff at the beginning of January I was really hoping to dip under 8:48 in Ostrava as that is the European qualifying time. With this race being my professional debut on the European circuit, I was pretty nervous, however I didn’t feel there was too much pressure on me as I was definitely not the fastest in the race! The first couple of laps can make or break a 3000m, so when the gun went off, I just focused on settling into a comfortably uncomfortable pace. Every lap I was able to look at the clock the check this was right around 8:45 pace. Once we were through 2km and I was feeling good I decided to push the pace a bit, very gradually I tried to get faster and faster each lap. By this point I was ahead of the lap times I had memorised, so looking at the clock was no help. I just had to trust that I could hold this increase in pace to the finish. I remember seeing the clock with one lap to go, but I wasn’t able to do the maths for what the finishing time would be as I was busy racing a couple of girls around me. When I looked at the time as I crossed the line I was shocked. Before the race I would have said 8:45 on a good day, so I truly did blow my expectations out the park!”
What are your aims and ambitions for the outdoor season?
“Looking ahead to the summer I ultimately want to drop my times over the 1500, 3000 and 5000 on the track. For me it’s about continuing to enjoy racing and training and see where I end up.”
“As long as you are putting the work in and you truly believe you can make it, there’s nothing out there stopping you”
Innes Fitzgerald
You mentioned your run in Ostrava being your first professional race; what advice would you give to young athletes trying to break through into the elite space of athletics?
“The best piece of advice I have ever been given is to just keep turning up. It’s that simple. Whether training is going well or not, just keep turning up week after week, session after session. It can often feel like you are treading water and things aren’t progressing, but not every session has to be amazing. As long as you are putting the work in and you truly believe you can make it, there is nothing out there stopping you.”
Since this interview, Innes has continued to deliver stellar results. At the UK Indoor Championships, the Exeter athlete ran with a maturity well beyond her years and came 3rd, finishing just behind the experienced Hannah Nuttall, and Laura Muir, the British sporting icon. This brilliant bronze secured Innes’ spot to represent team GB at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in early March, where she battled through the heats and finished 8th in a tricky, tactical final.
Level-headedness, self-belief, quiet confidence, and record-breaking results to back it up; with Exeter’s own Innes Fitzgerald at the helm, the future for GB women’s distance-running looks in safe hands.
