Kent League Cross Country, Bexley Park – Saturday 25th November

The athletes from Medway & Maidstone Athletic Club were met with a gloriously sunny but cold day at Danson Park, Bexley on Saturday 25th November. This was the final race of the Kent League Cross Country season for the junior athletes. Both the senior men and women have their final race in February.

With some of the senior women missing but still able to field a full team for the 6 to score, there were some strong runs by the ladies. Stephanie Hearn headed the 3 to score team in 16th, followed by Jenny Fowler, 20th and Bernadette Harrop, 50th. Claire Wilkins in 59th with her best race to date, Mo Fazakerley in 62nd and Alison Williams in 76th closed the 6 to score. Kat Ford finishing in 132nd. The women are currently in 4th place in both the 3 and 6 to score.

The only M&M U20 female competing in this age group saw Emily Hale with a great finish taking 1st place on the day and therefore over the 4 races, first place overall.

The U17 women saw Abigail Jordan finish in her highest placing yet in 13th and the improving Georgia Williams in 25th.

There were only three girls in the U15’s due to several of the team competing in the ESAA Schools’ Cross Country Cup National Final in Sevenoaks . With a season highest placing for Rachel Anderson in 11th, followed closely behind by Alex Baker-Jones in 12th (even after being spiked quite badly at the start of the race and then spending 3 hours in A&E getting it cleaned and taped together) and another season highest placing for Kerry Dewberry in 33rd. The U15’s finished an excellent fourth on the day and finished the season in sixth overall after a great season.

There were a total of 12 girls competing for the U13’s. All of the girls recorded strong performances on the day, capping off a great season.  First over the line for the U13’s in the points scoring positions were Abigail Royden in 9th, followed by Anna Palmer in 10th and Annabel Young in 17th.  They were followed by Fern Curran 18th, Sarah Mitchell 24th, Lily Crossley 26th, Emma Ryan 32nd Abbe Clark 39th, Grace O’Connell 50th, Ruby Towler 53rd, international race walker Katie Stringer 57th and Ciara Harrop 61st. In the team event, the U13’s finished a magnificent second on the day and the U15’s finished an excellent fourth.  In the end of season league table, the U13’s finished fourth and the U15’s finished the season in sixth.

The U20 men were able to field a team for the first time this season. Ryan Mugera improved on his third place from 2 weeks ago and achieved an individual first place.  He was supported by Simon Habtom, 3rd and Max Read, 13th (in his first race this season).

The U17 Men for the 4th time this season, fielded another strong team of 9 athletes. Once again the athletes showed improvement with 7 of the team improving on their individual place finishes. Overall the team achieved 3rd place for the second consecutive meeting. Individual race placings; Ben Hughes 8th, Quinn Austin 14th, Johannes Sadler 28th, Alex Donnelly 30th, Jude Gordan, 37th, Reece Perkins 41st, James Grogan 48th, Lewis Jell 51st and, Lorcan Rodgers 53rd. The team finished the season in 4th overall.

The U15 boys were again 2nd on the day behind Blackheath & Bromley Harriers and they finished the season in 2nd place. Ethan Gear was first home, 10th, Max Eldridge, 17th and George Wallace, 18th closed the team of 3. They were supported by Ethan Burling, 21st, Jack Childs, 23rd, Finlay MacDonald , 27th and Michael Uzozie, 39th.

The U13 boys once again finished in 3rd place finishing the season in 3rd place. Alistair Shelley led them home in 7th, Cameron Featherstone, 9th and Hayden Gear, 16th closed the team of 3. Kelechi Ryan, 25th, Kaz Gogol, 27th Callum Featherstone 44th, Jack Morris 50th, Jacob Graham 51st, Elliot Chamberlain 59th and Adam Childs 74th.

Congratulations to those athletes who have qualified to run for Kent in the Inter Counties championships in Oxford on 9th December. The next race for all athletes will be the Kent Championships at Brands Hatch on 6th January 2018.

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