Doncaster Athletic Club duo star on international stage

Wheelhouse finished second overall in the W60 category.

She also helped England strike gold in the three-lap race which featured four runners, of which the first three counted, from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The second England runner home in the M60 race contested over four laps, Newman also claimed a team gold.

Both athletes, who enjoyed injury-free seasons during 2018, successfully applied for selection after impressing the selectors during the year with their performances in both England and British Masters events at both 10k and 5k and on the track.

In addition to posting some quick times over the shorter distances during the qualifying period, Wheelhouse recorded the second fastest W60 time in history (1 hour 29 minutes 14 seconds) in the event when finishing second in her category in the Amsterdam half-marathon.

Among a number of impressive runs by Newman during the previous 12 months was his victory in the M60 10,000 metres at the 2018 British Masters Track & Field Championships.

Reflecting on his international debut Newman said: 'The conditions were bright and breezy and the course was undulating but very runnable and we both had really good runs.

'It is a long hard process to gain a place in the England team with lots of hard work but at the same time it's an honour and worth all the effort.'

Both runners will be back in action in the South Yorkshire Cross Country Champs on December 9 where they will start favourites in their respective events.