Thanet Roadrunners’ Jo Holl has been selected to run for the England Masters Half-Marathon team.

Holl has been picked for the V55 age group after a brilliant performance in the qualifying race - the Great Eastern Run in Peterborough - where she not only beat her personal best by more than a minute but won her overall age group category with a time of 1hr34min20sec.

She finished 588th overall and is set to wear the much-coveted England vest in the Swansea Half-Marathon next June.

Coach Andy Stevens said: “I am so pleased for Jo that she has been selected to run for her country. She has worked so hard over the last few months and this is a well-deserved reward.

“Jo has real mental toughness and isn't afraid of meeting those tough training sessions head on.”

Club chairperson Julie Neaves added: “On behalf of everyone at the club we would like to extend our huge congratulations to Jo for this achievement and continue a proud tradition of having our Masters athletes represent us on the international stage.

“Jo is the first Thanet Roadrunners female to qualify for an England Masters vest in the club’s 42-year history and this makes it even more special for her and the club.”

Holl started running in 2013 aged 47 when her parkrun best was 25 minutes. She joined Thanet Roadrunners and has made consistent progress.

The club’s free Couch-to-5k programme starts in January and they are particularly encouraging shift workers, who find fitness difficult, to sign up.

As a nurse Holl knows how disruptive this can be and will be one of the run leaders sharing her passion, tips and enthusiasm.

Russell Jones and Jon Holl also ran at Peterborough. Jones was 41st in the M55-59 class with 1:43.04 and Jon Holl timed 1:49.45 for 37th in the M60-64 age group.