Barbara Banks, of Wallasey Athletic Club, who was placed sixth in the National Cross-Country Championships in Rawtenstall on Saturday, has won a place in the English athletic team which will be taking part in the InterNational Cross-Country Championships in Gwent, Belgium, on March 17.
Barbara's International career began in 1971 when after two years of complete obscurity in the athletic world she made a big breakthrough finishing fourth in the National Championships of that year.
As a result she was selected to run in Maryland against the best girls from both sides of the Atlantic. She finished fourth after leading for much of the way, as England's second runner home.
Later the same year Barbara competed in her first track international at Warsaw, Poland, in the 1,500 metres. Later in the season she set a British record over 3,000 metres and would undoubtedly have been selected to run in the Commonwealth Games had this event been included in the programme.
The following winter Barbara took a sixth-month break from athletics. Barbara's superb competitive ability has been amply demonstrated throughout this winter as she has worked uncompromisingly towards her goal. At the same time she has been a fine club athlete.
Barbara is one of three athletes surviving from the successful England team of 1971 and it is not unrealistic to expect them to form the basis of another winning team.
Whether she wins or not, Barbara will carry the flag for Wallasey and its athletic club when she runs in Belgium.
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Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 03/03/1973
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