We are delighted that Kristal has joined our BRIT Ambassador family.
Kristal is a Great Britain sprinter who competes in the 60 metres, 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay. Kristal has won four National titles and is aiming to qualify to represent Great Britain at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“Having seen the devastating impact of mental health in my own family, and having been a student in South West London, I know that many students and young adults suffer with mental health challenges. Young adults will need support for the short-term impact of COVID-19 on their wellbeing to avoid long-term effects. Mental health services have become extremely sought after during lockdown and this means more people are struggling to access the help they need.
In April 2020, Mind reported that one in four young people were unable to access the mental health support they need. The British Inspiration Trust’s BRIT 2021 Challenge is a great way for students and young adults to unite wherever they are (at home or on campus) through an inspiring feel-good challenge and raise vital funds for five charities who support young adult mental health; PAPYRUS – Prevention of Young Suicide, Nightline Association, Student Minds, The Charlie Waller Trust and BRIT. This means that all donations raised by the BRIT 2021 Challenge will be shared equally between the five mental health charities.
It is a pleasure to be joining the BRIT Ambassador family to support and improve young adult mental health throughout the UK and I hope every UK university, college and students’ union embraces and champions the BRIT 2021 Challenge and encourages their students and staff to participate. I will do all I can to invite fellow Great Britain athletes to join our BRIT Ambassador family and help support young adult mental health.
I look forward to encouraging King’s College, London, London South Bank University, the University of East London, Capel Manor College, London South East Colleges, Croydon College and St Martin-in-the-Fields 6th Form College to enter teams in the BRIT 2021 Challenge, and supporting their students and staff”.
Kristal was born in Streatham, London and is a member of the Herne Hill Harriers and is coached by Matthew Thomas.
She has won four National titles; two U23 and two U20.
In 2016, Kristal won bronze in the 100 metres at the Surrey County Outdoor U20 Championships, won gold in the 100 metres at the ESAA England Schools Championships, gold in the 60 metres at the Surrey County Indoor Championships and silver in the 60 metres at the South of England AA U20 Indoor Championships,
A year later, Kristal won gold in the 100 metres at the 2017 ESAA England Schools Championships, gold in the 60 metres at the 2017 Surrey County Outdoor U20 Championships, gold in the 100 metres at the 2017 South of England AA U20 Indoor Championships and gold in the 100 metres at the England Athletics U20 Outdoor Championships.
In 2018, Kristal moved from 31st to 2nd on the UK all time U20 list for the 100 metres.
That same year, Kristal won bronze in the 60 metres at the England Athletics U20 Indoor Championships, gold in the 60 metres at the South of England AA U20 Indoor Championships, gold in the 100 metres at the South of England AA U20 Outdoor Championships and gold in the 100 metres in the England Athletics U20 Outdoor Championships.
In 2018, Kristal also won bronze in both the 100 metres and 4 x 100 metres at the IAAF World Junior Championships.
At the 2019 European Athletics U23 Championships, Kristal came 6th in the 200 metres and at the European Indoor Championships, that same year, Kristal came 4th in the 60 metres.
That same year, Kristal came 4th in both the 100 metres and 200 metres at the British Championships, won gold in both the 100 metres and 200 metres at the England Athletics U20 Championships, and won bronze in the 60 metres at the British Indoor Championships.
Kristal’s fastest times so far are 7.15 seconds in the 60 metres (2019), 11.16 seconds in the 100 metres (2018) and 23.05 seconds in the 200 metres (2020).
In 2020, Kristal sped to the top of the UK Women’s 200 metres rankings after winning at the Gouden Spike meeting in Holland, and her performance in Bellinzona, Switzerland, cemented her the third place GB ranking in the 100 metres.
Kristal’s final 100 metres race of the 2020 season was at the Wanda Diamond League in Doha and a week later, she finished her 200 metres racing season with a win at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Kenya, close to her family roots, and at the start of Black History Month in the UK.
Kristal is now firmly focussed on the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo where she could represent Great Britain in the 100 metres, 200 metre and the 4 x 100 metres relay.
For more information about the GB Team, please visit the British Athletics website.