On 1st July 2023, Gabrielle Phelan stormed to victory in the senior girls English Schools Athletics steeplechase final, winning by a whole six seconds ahead of Hattie Reynolds in second place, becoming the English Schools Champion. She now holds the fastest time for the U20 women 1500m steeplechase in the UK this year so how did this Wirral girl become the steeplechase star she is today?

 

Gabby’s running roots go back to racing in the Wirral Primary Schools Cross Country races. Gabby commented that she’d always done sport as a child and that she was a big fan of running through mud so cross country was a perfect fit for her. Despite not joining an athletics club until year 7, she’s always been passionate about the sport, and her efforts and love of athletics clearly show in her performances and have rewarded her with exciting prospects for the future. “I didn’t realise I was good at running until I was in about year 10 when I started doing steeplechase and qualified for English Schools,” Gabby stated, “I hadn’t really considered that I could actually do well in a sport until that point.” And not only did she qualify but stood on top of the podium triumphantly and that win is something she will always be proud of.

 

The road to success is never straight forward and Gabby is certainly no stranger to a hurdle. Gabby exclaims how the main challenge for any sportsperson is injury, and she has been no exception. She suffered a stress fracture in her tibia, resulting in not being able to run for four months. “It wasn’t fun,” she said, “but I was determined to come back even stronger than before,” and she has unequivocally achieved this and her unwavering resilience has helped her to recover and come back onto the racing scene fighting. 

 

When asked what her favourite thing was about running, she replied it was her friends and the people you meet. “In my club there’s a really lovely close-knit group and I think that’s really important as we help and support each other which is needed in a sport that’s so mentally tough. It’s nice to spend time with people who have similar mindsets to you as well so having that group of girls to train with and be around is really lovely.”

 

This track athlete has her eyes set on battling it out in the Olympics and qualifying for more international competitions. Gabby inspires many athletes, and her determined and warm-hearted attitude should be an inspiration to us all. So, I wouldn’t be surprised when her name pops up on screen as you’re watching the Olympics in a few years- because this steeplechase sensation won’t just jump, she’ll soar.