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Distance runner Logan Smith was delighted to exceed his “wildest dreams” after marking his Great Britain debut with gold and bronze medals.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 28-year-old from Cromer, Norfolk, finished third in the 50km World Championship in New Delhi and was part of a Team GB podium clean sweep.<\/p>\n
Smith completed the course in 2 hrs 47 mins and 29 secs despite a 4:00am start time to reduce the level of heat to which the athletes would be subjected.<\/p>\n
He chased Alex Milne (2:46.09) and Charlie Davis (2:47.15) home, and it was a similar story in the women’s race with Britons Naomi Robinson and Katrina Ballantyne first and second.<\/p>\n
“I came out here hoping to compete well and do myself justice, but coming away with a bronze medal individually and a team gold medal, I am on top of the world,” Smith told BBC Radio Norfolk.<\/p>\n
“We packed really well. All the Brits, one to six, it’s absolutely unheard of. As a team, we absolutely crushed it, and if it wasn’t for the two guys ahead of me, I’d be sitting here with the European and British records – but I’m just buzzing with the time.”<\/p>\n
The Championship was put back from December because of the poor air quality in New Delhi at that time, but it remained a factor for the athletes.<\/p>\n
“The temperatures started off at about 19 degrees, so not too bad really, but it got up to 24, 25 and 80 per cent humidity – and the air pollution was a bit of an issue as well,” said Smith. <\/p>\n
“It’s not at that level where it’s unsafe to go ahead, but it’s higher than anywhere else in the world currently, so a lot of factors to take into account.<\/p>\n
“I was doing a lot of saunas [before travelling to India] and getting myself prepped heat-wise, and it clearly paid off, the hard work that went into it. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n