The blue track of the Lohrheidestadion arena has something about it doesn’t it? Another medal coming from the track and this time a bronze medal for Loughborough University’s Emily Parker.
On July 24 at 10.43 Emily first took to the track in Essen for heat number one of the 5,000 meters, taking the fifth spot with a time of 16:33.85 and claiming a spot in Saturday nights final.
Saturday night rolls around and we’re under the lights for the penultimate day on the track for the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 summer games. Out rolls Emily Parker in bib number one for a chance to write herself into GB Students history with just 12.5 laps standing in her way.
Emily nestled into the front of the pack early on making sure she was keeping pace with the setters at the front and this is where she stayed until 3 laps to go when herself and fellow brit Phoebe decided to take their turn at the front of the pack and dictating the pace.
With the bell ringing for one lap to go Emily crossed the line first signalling one final 400m push and with this came the pace from behind, everyone turned the heat up and started to overtake with ultimate one and two take the lead. Come the final corner of the race the pack had really split with the front three creating a large spilt from the others.
The finally 100m saw Emily pick the pace up to chase down the front two but they had put enough gap between them to compete the race meaning Emily Parker wins the bronze medal in the 5,000m at Rhine-Ruhr 2025 with a time of 15:36.12.
After the race Emily said “So happy, I’m really shocked to be honest. Didn’t think getting a medal, it’s absolutely buzzing. The race felt good.”
“I wanted top half. I didn’t really think about it during the race. I just wanted find my place, sitting behind someone. Then I just got a kick, stayed there and kept running in that pace.”
“I don’t have a word, I’m just shocked and so happy. I wasn’t thinking, I just ran. And it all paid off.”
"I heard my coach shouting at me, ‘stay focused, stay focused’. That helped me a lot.”
