Kettering Town Harriers Impress at National XC Relays
Berry Hill Park, Mansfield – Kettering Town Harriers delivered a series of outstanding performances at the 2025 National Cross Country Relays, with both experienced athletes and those experiencing a national competition for the first time showing great speed over the typical short distances for this event across all the age groups.
U15 Girls – Top 10 National Finish
The standout performance again came from the U15 Girls A team, who stormed to a 10th place finish out of 82 teams, marking one of the club’s best-ever results at this event.
Superb top 10 finish for U15G, from left Bella Lamb, Millie Sharp, Marianna Owen.
- Marianna Owen who prefers a longer distance opened the race with a blistering 7:04.5, the 5th fastest individual split of the day to finish third in her leg in a very close race which saw just 0.2 seconds separate 2-4th, Owen worked hard in the final 200m to close down a small gap which had been opened by the leading pack, putting a superb finish.
- Millie Sharp maintained momentum with a strong 8:20.2 on leg two, managing to hold the Harriers in a competitive position.
- Bella Lamb anchored the team with a rapid 7:29.7, placing her among the top 30 fastest individual splits nationally, Lamb clawed back 6 places with a gutsy run to bring the team home in with a brilliant top 10 placing with a combined time of 22:54.4. great testament to the U15 Girls consistency over the early part of the winter season.
Marianna Owen 728, superb opening leg for 3rd place, the 5th fastest time on the day.
The U17 Women’s team from Kettering Town Harriers produced an excellent display at the National Cross Country Relays, finishing 23rd out of 62 teams in a highly competitive field.
- Jessica Lamb was on the opening leg and ran a competitive time of 10:46.2
to bring the team home in 48th place, laying the foundation for a strong finish.
- Peyton Almond ran a storming leg to claw back 17 places on the second leg in 09:45.4 and a second leg Position of 31st
Peyton delivered a superb second leg, gaining significant ground and moving the team up the standings with one of the fastest times of the day.
- Luan Power anchored the team with a competitive split of 09:51.1, making another 8 places and securing a fantastic final position of 23rd overall.
Peyton Almond, the fastest split from the U17 Women to help them to 23rd place.
U13 Boys – Competitive Showing
The U13 Boys team finished 64th out of 83 teams, showing promise and determination.
- Callum Johnson opened with 8:32, navigating a crowded and muddy first leg to bring the team home in 78th.
- Sebastian Knights-Branch gained ground with a strong 8:57.4 to gain 7 places on leg two.
- Maximilian Cochrane anchored the team with a competitive 8:42.5, bringing their total time to 26:12.4.
Despite tough conditions, the boys showed great teamwork and resilience, gaining valuable experience at national level.
U15 Boys – Solid Mid-Pack Finish
The U15 Boys A team also put in a commendable effort, finishing 48th out of 96 teams.
- Ben Scott led off with a swift 6:47.9, placing him among the top 30 fastest individual splits to bring the team home in 22nd position.
- Oliver Smith followed with a fantastic run in 6:57.7, keeping the team momentum and making up three places
- Mathias Knights-Branch making his debut in this competition closed with 8:01.7, bringing the team home in a total time of 21:47 in 48th place
This performance reflects the depth of talent in the boys’ squad and sets a strong foundation for future competitions.
Ben Scott with a fine opening leg, and a top 30 fastest time on the day
U17 Boys – Gritty Effort in Tough Conditions
The U17 Boys team battled through a competitive field and muddy terrain to finish 71st out of 100 teams.
- George Sharp struggled a little with recent illness to open with 11:16.7, and a 98th place finish.
- Harlee Hooker, celebrating his 16th Birthday ran a very competitive time to gain significant ground, making 17 places, with 10:22.2 second leg.
- Zachary Scott anchored the team with 10:32.2, bringing their total time to 32:11.3.
Despite the tough conditions, the team showed great determination.
Looking Ahead
With strong individual and team performances, especially from the U15 Girls and Boys, and the U17Women Kettering Town Harriers continue to build momentum heading into the winter season. The club now looks ahead to the North Midlands League fixture at Corby, where home advantage promise exciting results.
Congratulations to all athletes and coaches for a fantastic showing at the National XC Relays!