ULTRA-RUNNER Joanna Murphy admitted to feeling "overwhelmed" after racing to two medals in her first race in a Scotland vest.

Joanna, who is from Crossgates, claimed both Scottish and British championship medals by finishing third in the women's race at the recent Anglo Celtic Plate in Perth.

The annual competition features teams from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland taking on a 100 kilometre (62 mile) distance, achieved by completing 42 laps of a 2.381km loop.

Joanna, 31, was one of four athletes selected to race for her country in the women's race – which also featured the Scottish and British 100k Road Championships – and became the fifth member of the Carnegie Harriers, who are based in Dunfermline, to run in the event.

She received her call-up based on a number of fine long-distance performances, which last year included finishing as the first lady at the Great Glen Way Ultra – in which she took almost an hour of the previous female course record – and at the Glenmore 24 hour race.

Ahead of the event, Joanna told Times Sport that she had "gold, silver and bronze goals" for her finishing time, and was delighted to achieve her top target of crossing the line in under eight hours and 30 minutes.

She finished in 8:28.31, behind Scottish team-mates Sophie Mullins and Morgan Windram, to place third, and said: "It all ended up coming together. I managed to come in under eight hours and 30 minutes, which was my 'A' goal, and finishing in third place was a bonus. I didn't realise it was a Scottish and British event!

"I thought that I wouldn't be near a medal. I hoped to run a steady race and, in the first half, I was lapped by five other girls. I was sitting in seventh place for a while, then I moved up to fifth, and I got a confidence boost in the later stages when I could see others beginning to drop off.

"I know through experience that I have to sit at a comfortable pace, and I am stronger in the later stages. With five laps to go, I was fourth and picked off the girl in front, who I could see was walking a bit and I knew would see I was still running steady.

"I'm really delighted. The opportunity came up eight weeks before and I always thought that, in terms of representing Scotland, I was maybe not quite ready for it.

"I was overwhelmed. We had a team meeting the night before and I thought I might be out of my depth, but I love long-distance running."

Joanna, who joined the Harriers 10 years ago, is preparing to compete in the Virgin Money London Marathon at the end of the month – which she laughed is a "training run and a bit of fun" – added: "It was the first event I've done where I've had as many people there to see me at the finish.

"If the opportunity comes up, I'd love to do it again."