Cumbrian runner Charlotte Arter is hoping she can take confidence from her performances at the start of 2019.

Arter, who is originally from Stockdalewath, near Dalston, finished in second place at the Great Stirling XCountry on Saturday, seven days after having broken the Parkrun world record in Cardiff

The former Austin Friars School student led the women’s 6km race heading into the final lap but, ultimately, had to settle for second place behind Germany’s Elena Burkard.

“It’s been a crazy week, really,” Arter, who became a full-time athlete at the turn of the year, taking a break from her role at Cardiff University, told British Athletics. “It’s been a great start to 2019. 

"Hopefully now, I can just keep building as the year goes on. 

"But hopefully, I can take confidence from the Parkrun and the Great Stirling XCountry, knowing that I’m in good shape to see what I can do for the rest of the year.”

Elsewhere in Stirling, British middle-distance star Laura Muir began a busy 2019 schedule by anchoring Great Britain to victory in the Great Stirling Cross Country mixed relay.

Fellow Scot Jamie Williamson and English pair Alex Bell and Phil Sesemann handed Muir a lead she was never going to lose as she romped home.

Muir, 25, ran four minutes and 38 seconds for the final kilometre as GB finished in 17 minutes and 36 seconds.

Europe finished second, and took overall victory, with United States in third.