A NEW generation of the Cram family is to represent her country at international level.

Josie Cram, daughter of North-East athletics legend Steve, is part of the British squad competing in the European Triathlon Union (ETU) Duathlon European Championships in Spain this weekend.

The 27-year-old qualified in her age group at her debut sprint duathlon last October in Bedford and warmed up for Spain by finishing first in her age group at Stockton Duathlon last Sunday.

She is being sponsored by Sunderland-based sports nutrition company Totum Sport. 

That performance also earned her a place at the ITU Sprint Distance Duathlon World Championships in Canada in August.

She said: “I’m really excited to be pulling on GB kit for the first time in an international championship and looking forward to representing the North-East over in Spain. I’ve been taken aback by all of the support I’ve received.”

Josie, a successful club athlete with Morpeth Harriers, decided to try her hand at duathlons - a run leg, a cycling leg, followed by a final run - having organised a number of successful races herself in her role as event manager for Events of the North, the company behind the Kielder Marathon, Run Sunderland Festival and Durham City Run.

The Duathlon European Championships are in Soria, near Madrid, home of Fermin Cacho, who broke Steve Cram’s 1,500m European Record – since regained for Britain by Mo Farah.

Steve Cram, dubbed ‘The Jarrow Arrow’ first pulled on a GB vest at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, aged 19.

He said: “I’m incredibly proud of Josie’s achievements, as any father would be. It’s fantastic that all of her hard work and dedication is paying off and she thoroughly deserves to represent her country.”