On Saturday 10th November, Medway and Maidstone A.C. competed in the 3rd meeting in the Kent Athletic Cross Country League, at a sunny Danson Park, Bexley. With no Senior Men at this event the Senior Women had 8 athletes competing. First across the line M&M saw another strong performance from Jemma Whyman 21st (19:08) followed by Jenny Fowler 37th (19:45) and Antel Muller 43rd (19:53) finishing strongly to complete the 3-to-score team. The team are now in 5th place overall with one match to go. Taryne McPherson 58th (20:36), Rachael Stewart 70th (21:19) and Bernadette Harrop 86th (22:03) closed the 6-to-score team now in 3rd place. With Mo Fazakerley 91st (22:14) and Jill Young in her 2nd competitive run 127th (24.31) completing the Medway & Maidstone’s ladies’ team.
M&M had a total of 19 athletes competing for the U13G, U15G and U17W age groups at Danson Park. There were 12 M&M entrants in the U15 girls race which was just under a fifth of the entire field.
In the U13 Girls race, Mia Colyer was first for M&M in a superb 11th (11.28) (in only her second competitive cross country for the club), followed by Abigail Royden 16th (11.42) and Lily Crossley 23rd (12:04). They were followed home by Grace O’Connell 34th (12:40), Molly Marsh 40th (12:54) and Emily Moyle 42nd (12:54).
In the U15 Girls race, Anna Palmer was first over the line in an excellent 10th (14:49), with Fern Curran in an equally excellent 17th (15:20) and Sarah Mitchell in 20th (15:28). They were followed home by Ruth Campbell in 21st (15:42), Amirah Blackman 29th (16:10), Emma Ryan 36th (16:18), Martha Tatnell 37th (16:19), Annabel Young 39th (16:28), Alejandra Alonso 48th (17:16), Amy Jukes 51st (17:59), Ciara Harrop 55th (18:19) and Erin Hughes 61st (19:09).
M&M’s sole competitor in the U17 Women’s race was Charlotte Young who finished in 7th (18:59).
In the team event, both the U13 and U15 Girls were 4th in their respective age groups at Danson Park.
The U20 Men were represented by Quinn Austin 14th (16:31) & Lorcan Rodgers 21st (20:52)
The U17 & U20 men raced over a distance of 5K. The U17’s with a minimized team of only 5 athletes performed extremely well with all athletes finishing in the top half of the field. The 3 athletes scored for the team; Ben Hughes placing 9th (15:55). Alex Donnelly 18th (16:32) Jude Gordon 20th (16:49). The team placing 4th on the day and currently 4th with one match to go.
The U15 boys finished 5th overall and currently in 4th overall, they were led home by Ethan Gear 8th in (12:50) followed by Joe Hollands 26th (13:59) and Kelechi Ryan 31st in (14:10) to close the team. There was further good packing from Cameron Featherstone 36th in (14:24), Finn Rodgers 41st in (14:33) and Callum Featherstone 52nd in (15:11). The
The U13 boys again finished second overall with Alistair Shelley first home 4th (09:58) followed by Hayden Gear 5th (10:05) and Oliver Brownridge (making his club debut 8th in (10:12) to close the team. These were followed home by Kaz Gogol 14th (10:28), Ethan Rollings 26th (10:58), Jay Trimmer 32nd (11:06), Kieran Elvy 34th in (11:08, Jacob Graham 36th in (11:12), Elliot Chamberlain 42nd in (11:26) and Robert Wright 61st in (12:10). The U13 team are currently in 2nd place but with the same points total as Thanet Roadrunners.
The next Kent League match will take place at Foots Cray Meadow on Saturday 24th November with the return of the men and the women take a rest!
