Derby High School teacher represents Team GB in duathlon

Sarah Martin-Smith ran 5km, cycled 20km and finished with a 2.5km run in the ETU Sprint Distance Duathlon European Championships

Posted by Alice Savage | May 16, 2017 | Sports & Leisure

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• #etu-sprint-distance-duathlon-european-championships
• #sarah-martin-smith
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A Derby High School teacher represented Team GB in the ETU Sprint Distance Duathlon European Championships.

Sarah Martin-Smith ran 5km, cycled 20km and finished with a 2.5km run at the event in Soria, Spain.

The 38-year-old, who is Head of Art at Derby High School, in Hillsway, Littleover, was competing with 22 entrants in the 35 to 39 age category and finished in one hour 20 minutes.

It was a difficult course as it was very hilly and the weather was awful. There was torrential rain and gusts of wind at up to 50mph which was hard when I was on my bike - Sarah Martin-Smith, Head of Art at Derby High School

She said: “I qualified at events last year after achieving a top four time for my age group. I finished in 14th place and I was really pleased with that; to have come 14th in Europe.

“It was a difficult course as it was very hilly and the weather was awful. There was torrential rain and gusts of wind at up to 50mph which was hard when I was on my bike. I saw a couple of people come off their bikes.

“Overall, it was an amazing experience. There was a big opening ceremony and there was a para-triathlon going on, which was great to see. It was very well organised and it was also great to go up against so many athletes from all over Europe.”

Denise Gould, head teacher at Derby High School, congratulated Sarah on her achievement.

Mrs Gould said: “We are all very proud of Sarah’s achievement and the hard work she puts into this sport during the year in her spare time.  Sarah is an outstanding role model for our students both in and out of the classroom.”