Some of the Harriers were in action at the national Cross Country Relays, held at the traditional venue of Berry Hill Park in Mansfield. Conditions on the day were very wet, with heavy rainfall for most of the morning resulting in very slippery conditions under foot, a real early season XC test.
U13 Girls team were the highest placed team on the day for the harriers finishing in a very respectable 44th out of the 100+ teams competing, Lara Turner making her KTH debut set the fastest time from the trio with a great run in a very respectable 8:26 for the 2k course. Turner, in her first race of the season, was blocked off at the frenetic start and had to work her way through traffic over the short course, but she stayed strong through to the end and looks to be a good prospect for the Harriers going forward. Maggie Gancheva ran a fine 2nd leg in 8:41 making up 14 places finding the thinned out field easier to navigate, and the final leg saw Ellie Separovic bringing the team home with a solid third leg in 9:29.
U13G Maggie Gancheva, Lara Turner & Ellie Separovic, fine performance in 44th place
The U15B also finished in a very respectable 46th place overall with Luke Cole running great race in the opening leg to finish in 51st place in 7:20, the fastest leg of the trio, with Lucas Rogers making 4 places with a fine run with 8:04, and George Separovic making a further gain to bring the team home in 8:25. there were also 100+ teams competing.
U15B George Separovic, Lucas Rogers, Luke Cole in a respectable 46th place
The U17B struggled in the conditions with a brave effort to finish in 70th place out of the 90 teams competing, Josh Clutton set the fastest time of the trio with 10:49 over the 3km course to bring the team home in 87th place in the tough opening leg, with Ryan Raulia struggling in the slippery conditions running 12:05 to finish the 2nd leg in 85th place making a gain of two places & and Dylan Bowley on the final leg made 15 places to bring the team home in 70th place with 11:03.
The next test for the Harriers in the 2nd North Midlands league fixture which should see increased numbers competing with the more local venue of Corby West Glebe park.
Well done to all who competed.