Melissa Courtney-Bryant Comes Down From ‘Altitude’ To Launch Indoor Season In Fine Style

By Gareth James

Melissa Courtney-Bryant launched her season in impressive fashion over 3,000m at the indoor meeting in Karlsruhe.

The 27-year-old finished third in a high-class field in Germany as she began a year she hopes will take her to the Olympic Games.

Courtney-Bryant was among the leading pack throughout the race and moved onto the shoulder of Beatrice Chepkoech at the bell.

Wales’ 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist pushed the Kenyan, the world 3000m steeplechase champ, who went on to win in a world leading eight minutes 41.98 secs.

Amazing season opener by @mcourtneybryant against World class competition in Karlsruhe ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cxPB4BFzQk

— Welsh Athletics (@WelshAthletics) January 29, 2021

Courtney-Bryant came home in 8:42.41 just behind Ethiopia’s Fantu Worku (8:42.22) who edged her out of second in the home straight.

The Poole AC runner has been forced to adapt her training after a trip to Kenya was cancelled due to the on-going COVID-19 crisis.

Instead, Courtney-Bryant has been sleeping in an altitude tent to try and replicate the benefits gained from training in Kenya.

Melissa Courtney-Bryant, obscured, finished third as Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech won the 3,000m race in Karlsruhe. Pic: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

“It is a bit strange,” Courtney-Bryant told BBC Sport Wales before her first race. “When I explain it to my non-running friends, they do think it’s a bit bizarre.

“It’s a tent that goes over half of my body, down to my waist and it has a heavy chain to keep it down. You have a tube in there with the air, which is then connected to a generator.

“So I’m sleeping at 2,400 metres, which is Kenya height.”