The U17 men’s team consisting of Josh Coles, Matt Stewart & Liam Kirk, remain as overall team leaders after the penultimate round of the North Midland cross country league, held in windswept conditions at RAF Cranwell. After 3 races the Harriers team has accumulated 92 points ahead of Derby with 107 points, and Notts AC with 113 points. With the last round scheduled for the afternoon of the 14th January, the same day as the County schools competition in which all are running, they will have to decide if they wish to try to drive to Nottingham following the County schools race in Northampton?
Josh Coles ran a great race but was slightly down by his own high standards finishing in 5th position with a time of 21.18 for the 6km course, suffering slightly from a knock he picked up the week before at Liverpool in the UK Cross Challenge. The improving Matt Stewart ran a good race to secure 12th position in 22.12, with the consistent LiamKkirk finishing in a respectable 17th with 22.41. Josh Coles retains his individual series lead with 10 points from Burton’s Alex Benfield with 8 points
Sian Edwards continued her great from to finish in an excellent 2nd position in the senior woman’s race over the same 6km course in 22.03 to retain 2nd position overall in the series with 19 points, behind Sarah Harris with 29 points.
In the U15 Boys race Edward Cannell was running over the slightly longer distance of 5km, and lasted the distance well to finish in 21st position in 21.20.
Ethan Mehmet improved by 4 places from the previous round finishing in an excellent 8th position in the U13 boys race over 3.6km in 14.19, with Gabrial Smith finishing in 14th position with 15.00.
Over the same slightly longer distance the U15 Girls team finished in 4th position, with the consistent Fran Ashworth running a fine race to finish in 6th position with 14.43, Lauren Mehmet improved by 7 positions from the previous round to finish in a very good 17th with 16.41, and debut team member Serina Toledo finding it tough going over the longer distance finishing in 22nd with 20.56. The U15 Girls team are in 4th position after 3 rounds
Also competing over the same 3.6km course, the U13 Girls team finished in 5th position with Tabatha Walford just holding off a late challenge from local rival Alison Curtis of Corby AC to finish in 7th position with 15.28, Danielle Gaskell running a good race for 12th in 16.12, and Rebecca Hughes finishing in a respectable 21st with 17.10. The U13 Girls team are in 4th position overall after 3 rounds.
Well Done to all who ran.