Medway & Maidstone AC had a superb result in the final race of the Kent League Cross-country season. The race at Sparrows Den, Bromley was very muddy and the hilly 10 Km course tested all those running.
In the men’s 4-to-score team competition the club were 2nd on the day to Blackheath & Bromley AC, who were on home turf, but by beating Tonbridge into 3rd, they claimed the League title. The club were equal on match points, but won the league by 29 team points. In the 12-to-score competition, the club won the race on the day and were 2nd in the overall season’s results, missing out on this trophy by just 1 point.
Great runs over the season’s 4 races also led to several individual medals and good league positions for the club. Tewelde Menges just missed out on taking the individual league title with silver, followed by Robert Meyer with bronze. He was closely followed by Tom Collins who was placed 4th overall. Mark Wilkins was 10th overall. Lee McMeekin took silver in the Over 40s category, with Justin Lane also well placed in 6th. Gareth Williams was the highest placed Over 50 in 7th followed by Alun Rodgers in 10th.
In the final race, the club had a great entry once again with 16 runners. The race was won by Eritrean International Abel Tsegay of Invicta East Kent, followed by Deal Lacy of Cambridge Harriers. Menges was Medway & Maidstone’s top scorer in 5th, closely followed by Collins in 6th. Meyer, who in spite of being under the weather, finished in 11th. Wilkins closed the 4-to-score team in 19th. Many of the club’s runners finished in their highest positions for the season including Jack Crossley in 24th , Richard Tomlinson in 25th and Marley Godden in 29th. Michael Major, running for the first time in this league recorded a creditable 30th, closely followed by Lee McMeekin in 35th. Justin Lane had a season position best making the top 50 in 47th place. Adam Featherstone in 57th and Gareth Williams in 64th closed the 12-to-score team, providing a low overall total. Andrejs Safars fell back after a great start and will now look forward to competing in track middle distance running, his main strength. Alun Rodgers 96th, Stephen McGlynn 97th and Darren Wright (returning from injury) completed the team.
In the Senior Women’s race the club had five runners. Taryne McPherson was the first home for the club in 20th place, easily her best this season. Bernadette Harrop was 41st on the day, 19th overall and 10th Over 35 for the season. Claire Wilkins was 47th on the day and 28th overall. Mo Fazakerley was 57th on the day, 25th overall and 8th in the Over 45 category. Kat Ford finished in 92nd easily her best place to date. In the 3-to-score women’s team competition, the club finished 9th on the day out of 16 teams. The team finished a creditable 4th overall for the season, out of 21, showing they could be in medal contention next season.