SYREETA Stacey’s first season as a duathlete proved to be a successful one as she returned from the European Duathlon Championships in Italy with a silver medal.

The talented 25-year-old civil servant was up against 200 other competitors from 26 countries in the Italian village of Varallo Valsesia, which is nestled in the foothills of the Alps, and proved more than a match for Europe’s best.

Syreeta’s silver in the 25/29 category helped Great Britain’s Age Group Duathletes finish second behind Italy in the medals table with 11, of which six were gold and five silver.

Syreeta’s race consisted of a 10km run through the cobbled village streets of the picturesque Italian village, before cycling a further 40km and then finally a 5km run.

The Crystal Palace Triathletes’ star suffered a set-back in the first lap of the cycle ride when she was hampered with muscle cramp after taking an early lead on the first leg of the race.

Despite the blow, Syreeta battled through the pain barrier to the finish the race and take silver in a time of 2hrs 34mins 23secs.

The medal is a fitting reward for the Beckenham girl after battling back from a cycling accident which threatened to rule her out of the championships.

“I am very pleased and happy with my performance at the championships,” commented Syreeta.

“Things went well since I started this year. I competed in a few mini-triathlon series to get me started. Then I did an Olympic Triathlon in June, which went well.

“Unfortunately I had a bad cycling accident and I was out of action in July and August which was a setback in my first year.

“But I managed to start training at the beginning of September in preparation for the European Games.”

Syreeta now has her sights on the World Championships next year, which are being held in Geel, Belgium, in May, and another rostrum place.

“The World Championships will be a bit harder, but my aim is to improve my finishing time. It all depends on how difficult the course is though,” she added.

“I would be happy with a top 10 or 15 finish to be honest.”

Meanwhile, club-mates Carole Jackson, Debra Lawson and Derek Chitty hope to follow in Syreeta’s footsteps on to the rostrum when they fly out to take part in the Triathlon World Champion-ships in Queenstown, New Zealand next month.