Fresh from her debut appearance with Great Britain at the World Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, West Yorkshire’s Maisey Bellwood is setting her sights on a first ever victory at the ESAA Cross Country Championships at Sefton Park on March 14th. 

Interview by Rosie Tinbergen

Bellwood’s bold frontrunning earned her a surprise sixth-place finish in last year’s senior girls’ race, cementing her status as one of the most impressive talents in British athletics. She will be out to improve on that result when she makes her last ever appearance at the English Schools’ Championships this month. 

In an interview with Vinco before the race, the 17-year-old talks about her first GB call-up, her favourite pre-race sandwich and why Sefton Park is such a special place to race. 

Maisey, how excited are you for the ESAA Cross Country Championships at Sefton Park?

I'm really excited. It’s my last English Schools and for it to be at Sefton Park, such an iconic location for cross-country, is really exciting.

You raced pretty well at Sefton Park at the Liverpool Cross Challenge back in November. Tell us about that race and what it will mean to be back on another massive occasion. 

The Liverpool Cross Challenge was kind of a breakthrough race for me, which I wasn’t really expecting it to be at the time. I executed my race really well there, so it’s exciting to go back to the same course with the same race plan. 

Liverpool is a very fast course, but it can also be tougher than people expect. Are there any parts of the course you think will be particularly challenging?

I think the hardest part of the course is on the back fields, where there are fewer spectators, it’s a bit muddier and you’re going through a bit of woodland. Those bits are the most mentally challenging when you’re not in the thick of it with all the spectators cheering you on. The most exciting bit is when you’re coming down into the sprint finish after the turn. I really like that part. 

It does get very muddy at Sefton Park and we have seen buckets of rain lately. How will that impact your approach?

I think it’s just about being aware of it. There will be so many people running and we will be one of the later races, so the course will be quite churned up. It’s all about trying to conserve as much energy as you can to get through all the mud. 

You already mentioned that this will be your final appearance at English Schools. What would it mean to win at Sefton Park and take that senior title?

Honestly, it would mean absolutely everything. I actually won English Schools at primary-school level when I was in Year Six, so it would be amazing to come full circle and finish on a high. 

English Schools competitions are always among the most prestigious events, both on the track and in cross country. How important have they been for you and your career?

It’s so important. In every cross-country season, the main aim is always to win English Schools or at least to perform at your very best on that stage. That is what we are all working towards. 

You finished sixth in the senior race last year. Will that be a springboard for more success this year?

It felt amazing to achieve that. Last year, I really came into my own in cross country after a couple of years struggling with it. And at English Schools I was actually in the lead for a lot of the race, which was a big surprise. I had so much adrenaline because I'd never really led such a big race before. It took a long time for me to get my head around that experience. It’s definitely given me a lot of confidence for this year.

You also made your first appearance for Great Britain at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee in January. That must have given you a lot of confidence too?

It was a complete whirlwind. It was my first ever international race and my first time representing a higher level than Yorkshire. That was a crazy experience, to suddenly be there with people like Megan Keith, who I have looked up to for so long. 

How emotional was it to get that first GB call-up?

It was so surreal. I always wondered how I would react: I thought I’d start crying or just be really happy. But when it happens, it doesn’t feel real. I think it was when all the kit came and I got to try it on that it started to seep in. Going to the airport and meeting the team was crazy, but everyone was so welcoming and down to earth, and that made it a lot easier. We were like a little family. 

What was your main takeaway from that first experience on the world stage?

I listened to a lot of conversations and I think my main takeaway was that you have to do what’s best for you. Everyone is so different and you really have to understand yourself. That’s especially true with travel, which I hadn’t really done before, so I wasn’t sure what I needed to be doing. Hopefully that’s something I’ll learn as I do more events in future.  

There were thousands of spectators in Florida. Was that also an experience that can help you in Liverpool this month?

It was very overwhelming. The spectators were only allowed in certain places, so you would be racing in complete silence and then suddenly hear the roar of the crowd. Normally when I’m racing, I stay within myself and don’t really know what’s going on around me, so that was overwhelming but it also gave me adrenaline. 

You’ve continued your good form since then, finishing second at the Hannut CrossCup in Belgium last month. Will that give you a boost for English Schools?

I think so. You have to back yourself and be really confident. I know that my fitness is there from training and racing, but you also can’t take anything for granted. Everyone has good and bad days, so you have to be aware of the people around you as well. 

Do you have any specific tactics or race plan lined up for ESAA?

It’s hard because you don’t know how other people are going to run. I like to break the race down into different sections and know what I am doing in each section, rather than thinking about the whole course. I’ll do that in Liverpool as well. 

Do you have any pre-race rituals?

I always have porridge in the morning, and I like to walk around when I get there and think about the different sections. I love talking to my mum before a race, because she always helps me with what I need to think about. I also always like to have a banana, peanut butter and honey sandwich before a race. But I try not to overthink it. In the past, I’ve gotten too caught up on things like wearing specific socks. When you obsess over those things, that’s when things go wrong. 

You had a great summer on the track last year. How has that translated into this cross country season?

I think where you really see the track running come into play is in the finish. One thing I had to learn very quickly last summer, especially in the 1500m, was to have that change of pace. Everyone will be going very slowly and then suddenly you are sprinting. Going through that on track gives you a huge advantage, and the change of pace is something you can use even at the end of a four or five-kilometre cross country race. 

Do you prefer those shorter distances in cross country, or do you like the longer courses too?

I definitely prefer the shorter, sharper cross races. That’s also why I like English Schools, because they are usually shorter courses and that suits me.

Watch the full interview here

You can watch the English Schools' Athletics Association Cross Country Championships live from Sefton Park, Liverpool on March 14th with a RunnerSpace+ Subscription