We talk to the British middle-distance international who has already enjoyed an eventful year

Eleanor Strevens didn’t plan to open her year by pacing a record-chasing 1500m race, let alone alongside one of her idols. But that’s exactly how things unfolded at the Keely Klassic, where a last-minute call-up saw her set the tempo for Georgia Hunter Bell, who came close to breaking the British indoor mark with a personal best of 4:00.63.

Before that unexpected turn at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena in February, the 18-year-old had already made her mark in cross country. She claimed the BUCS Short Course title and contributed to a British gold medal-winning under-20 team performance at the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, finishing sixth, just behind team-mates Innes FitzGerald and Jess Bailey.

Now just completing her first year at the University of Birmingham, Strevens most recently made her debut at the BUCS outdoor championships with a strong second-place finish in the 800m, running 2:06.59 behind Abigail Ives. Just a week later, she posted a 1500m personal best of 4:14.61 – making her the fastest under-20 in the UK over the distance this year, at the time of writing (Strevens had improved to 2:04.45/4:13.41 by mid June). With her confidence high and times improving, Strevens is now setting her sights on earning a spot on the Great Britain team for this summer’s European Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

How did you first get into the sport?

It actually first came around on sports day in primary school and someone approached my mother and he asked if I ran for a club. When we said no he recommended Eastbourne, which is my local club, so I got in contact with a coach there when I was nine years old and then it all spiralled from there. I loved it as a kid and I think I was lucky that I was gifted and had a natural ability to run.

How has your season been so far?

I'm really happy with how the year has gone. BUCS cross-country was probably one of my favourite races I’ve ever done. I’m obviously hoping that there's more room to come but I think where we are now is a good start and hopefully it's leading into the aims of what we want to achieve throughout the season.

What was the experience of pacing Georgia Hunter Bell like?

It was incredible. It was really last minute, we only got the call-up the day before because I think the original pacer dropped out and then I got contacted. I thought: ‘Oh my goodness’ because I just had one of my hardest track sessions of the year the day before.

But it was such an incredible experience to be surrounded by Georgia and being able to pace her, as well as Sarah Healey running the Irish record. It really motivated me as I knew that was what I wanted to achieve and to be like Georgia.

The nerves were so much worse than just normal racing. I'd have been so much less nervous to actually race in the race than to pace it but I think it was a good thing to learn to deal with.

As a first year student, how did you find the transition to university?

I actually haven’t struggled too much with juggling work and training but I think, when I first came to uni, it was quite a big jump because I've been training down in Eastbourne since I was nine years old through to the age of 18. 

I'd always been with my little group and I think coming to university and being surrounded by such incredible athletes definitely took me back a bit because I might be at the front of my group at home but, coming to uni, lots of athletes are faster than me. I think it's something that is really valuable to learn and obviously I've adapted now. 

What works so well within the University of Birmingham athletics team?

Honestly it's a credit to the coaches. I think all of us have so much trust in them and I think that is so important. My coach at Birmingham is Dean Miller and I have so much trust in him, when he tells me to do a certain session or to do a certain run I fully know that that is what I've got to do in order to be the best possible athlete. 

I think that really just is the key, all the coaches work together so well to make the best out of us in such a supportive environment.

Who do you look up to?

Georgia Hunter Bell because she disappeared from the sport for so long and then had such a strong comeback. She’s generally such a lovely person and is such an inspiration so it was an honour to pace her.

What’s your biggest achievement so far?

I think getting to the European Cross Country Championships in 2024 and coming sixth would be one of my favourite races and best achievement.

Going into the cross season I wasn't planning on racing much and I was just doing a bit with the aim of building my endurance for the 800m. But, when I came to uni, Dean said to me that you actually do have it in you to potentially make the team and it was a real fight to do so. [The European Cross trials in] Liverpool was a really tough race but I did manage to pull through. In Turkey the championships were really quite eye-opening so I was really pleased with how it went. 

How does being in a very competitive age group, with the likes of Innes FitzGerald and Jess Bailey, affect your performance?

I love everyone, they are so friendly in the competition world. It's great to have these people that push you on and make you strive for more. It will be the same this track season. There are so many fast girls who are all aiming for Europeans [U20s] and I think generally we're all just spurring each other on to try and get better. I do think it's great to have that level of competition around us.

What is next for you?

The aim will be to get to the European Under-20 Championships. We’re mainly aiming for the 1500m but ideally I’ll try to get the qualifying time in the 800m and 1500m. 

Factfile
Born: December 14, 2006
Club: Eastbourne/University of Birmingham
Coach: Christopher Voice/Dean Miller
Events: 800m/1500m
PBs: 2:04.45/4:13.41