UNDER-23 WOMEN'S FINAL: Pallant wins comfortably | 11.12.2011

Great Britain's Emma Pallant celebrates as she crosses the finish line during the women's under-23 race at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Velenje on Sunday.

Britain’s Emma Pallant cruised to a clear win in 19:57, crossing the line five-seconds ahead of team-mate Naomi Taschimowitz with Germany’s Corinna Harrer just outsprinting Britain’s Stephanie Twell for bronze.

Portugal’s Caterino Ribeiro and Carla Rocha led the field of 43 into the initial charge and went through the first lap in that position with Rocha clocking 5:08.

Into the second lap, Turkey’s Burcu Buyukbezgin was chasing Rocha with a strong British team gathering its forces led by Twell and Pallant.

After nine minutes of running, Twell was sharing the lead with Buyukbezgin with Pallant in attendance and looking the most comfortable of the leading trio.

 At the 3000m mark there were four British runners in the top ten and they led the team standings by 31 points from Germany.

Into the third lap and Twell and Pallant had opened up a gap with Taschimowitz in third.

At the bell Britain had the team race sewn up once again holding a commanding 29-point lead over Germany with Portugal in third a further 36 in arrears.

Pallant made her move with a kilometre to go and extended her lead to the finish in what turned out to be a comfortable victory to add to her bronze from last year.