Medway & Maidstone AC had a good turnout across the age groups at the Cross-Country Championships held at a very cold Brands Hatch on Saturday 6th January 2018.
The senior men had 15 athletes completing the course. The team were rewarded with bronze medals in both the 6-to-score and 12-to-score team competitions. The overall 6-to-score team winners were Tonbridge, followed by Kent AC, then Medway & Maidstone AC. Tonbridge AC also claimed the 12-to-score team win, again followed by Kent AC and Medway & Maidstone AC. The overall individual winner was John Gilbert of Kent AC covering the 12 Km course in 38.02. This was his 3rd consecutive and 7th overall Kent Senior title. Abel Tsegay of Invicta East Kent AC had a very fast finishing 1 km to take 2nd place (38.24) from Benedict Cole of Tonbridge AC (38.28). First runner for the Medway & Maidstone AC was Teweldebrahn Menges in 7th (40.22) closely followed by Tom Collins in 9th (40.39). Ben Tyler (17th 41.52), Mark Wilkins (27th 42.30), Christopher Fullerton, making a welcome return, (30th 42.51) and Richard Tomlinson (40th 43.52) made up the 6-to-score bronze medal team. The 12-to score team was completed by Jack Crossley (49th 44.30), Lee McMeekin(58th 45.12), Max Read (62nd 45.22), Justin Lane (71st 46.20), Barry Royden (85th 47.44) and Adam Featherstone (92nd 48.16). The overall team was completed by Gareth Williams (113th 49.57), Bob Fursey (141st 51.47) and Alun Rodgers (148th 52.30).
Medway & Maidstone AC for only the second meeting this season were able to field a Mens Under 20 team. Jake Berry led the team with an excellent third place (21:00) individual performance, supported by Marley Godden (16th 22:56) and Carl Eldred finishing (25th 26:04). The team had a good day collecting an unexpected team Bronze medal.
The M&M Under 17 Men’s team team were hampered with illness and after ending the league season in a team position of 4th knew to win a medal this year would take a mammoth effort. What was left of the team pulled together with many putting in their best performance of the season, so far. As a result the team surprised themselves and deservedly won another team bronze medal for the club. Ben Hughes continued his excellent season with another individual 6th place (21:51). Supported by Quinn Austin (20th 23:31), Alex Donnelly (28th 24:42) & Johannes Sadler (29th 24:46), that made up the scoring team. Reece Perkins (34th 25:32), James Grogan (43rd 28:17) and Lorcan Rodgers (46th 30:10).
The U15 boys, racing over 4.45km, recreated their season long form to finish with silver medals behind Tonbridge AC and just ahead of Blackheath & Bromley Harriers. Hamish Reilly collected an individual bronze medal (3rd in 15:10), followed by Dan McGlynn (12th in 15:59), Luke Stringer (17th in 16:17) and Ethan Gear who closed the team of 4 (21st in 16:35), there was further support from George Wallace (26th in 16:56), Max Eldridge (29th in 17:07), George Dadd (32nd in 17:25), Finlay MacDonald (34th in 17:33) and Finn Rodgers (43rd in 18:09).
The U13 boys, racing over 3.4km, missed out on a medal by just 14 points, finishing in 5th place. Alistair Shelley led them home (7th in 12:23), the team of 4 was closed by Cameron Featherstone (15th in 12:43), Hayden Gear (24th in 13:23) and Callum Featherstone (29th in 13:33) with Kaz Gogol (35th in 13:43), Kelechi Ryan (36th also in 13:43), Jack Morris (60th in 14:23), Elliot Chamberlain (66th in 14:36) and Kyle Buckley (75th in 15:01) supporting.
The M&M Senior Woman were depleted in numbers due to illness but still had 4 women competing strongly. Stephanie Hearn was first across the line for M&M (24th 36:03), followed by Claire Wilkins returning to form (49th 38:59) and Bernie Harrop (61st 39:58) completing the 3 to score for 9th place overall. Mo Fazakerley (66th 49:17)
Emily Hale was M&M’s only runner in the U20W age group finishing 11th (23:55). Similarly in the U17W Abigail Jordan finished in 16th place (23:58).
There was a great turn out from the Under 13 and Under 15 girls and they produced some excellent performances on a deceptively tough and heavy course. There were ten competitors for M&M in the U13 age group from a total field of 54 runners and five competing for M&M in the U15 age group from a total field of 44 runners. In the U13’s race, Abigail Royden finished first for M&M (8th 12:41), followed by Annabel Young (14th 13:05) and Martha Tatnell (15th 13:09) in her first competitive race for M&M. They were followed by Emma Ryan (21st 13:36), Fern Curran (24th 13:51), Lily Crossley (30th 14:03), Abbe Clarke (35th 14:27), Sarah Mitchell (41st 14:46), England race walker Katie Stringer (44th 15:18) and Ciara Harrop (48th 16:46). The Under 13’s finished fourth for M&M in the team event.
For the U15’s, Charlotte Young came home first for M&M (7th 16:44), followed by Alex Baker-Jones (9th 16:49) and Rachel Anderson (17th 18:10). They were followed by Millie Morris (34th 19:37) and Kerry Dewberry (35th 19:55). The U15’s finished in an excellent third place and picked up the bronze team medal for M&M.
Full results here
A mix of all the age groups below:
