Kent Cross Country Championships, Brands Hatch – Saturday 5th January 2019

Results

Medway & Maidstone AC had an excellent turnout for the Kent Cross Country Championships at Brands Hatch on Saturday 5th January 2019.

The Senior Men had 19 athletes completing the course.  The team were rewarded with silver medals in both the 6-to-score and 12-to-score team competitions.

The overall 6-to-score team winners were Tonbridge, followed by Medway & Maidstone AC, with Kent AC taking bronze.  Tonbridge AC also claimed the 12-to-score team win, again followed by Medway & Maidstone AC, then Kent AC.

Tonbridge dominated the race, taking the first 4 places. The overall individual winner was Benedict Cole covering the 12 Km course in 38.04.  He was followed by Maximillian Nicholls (38.20) and Jamie Bryant (38.40).

First runner for Medway & Maidstone AC was Teweldebrahn Menges in 10th (39.40).  Menges had stayed with the front group for half the race, but dropped back slightly in the second half. He was closely followed by Ben Tyler in 15th (40.02) and Tom Collins (16th 40.15).  Noel Sutton M45 in 27th (41.30), Mark Wilkins M35 30th (41.44) and the improving Jack Crossley M35 in 35th (42.10), made up the 6-to-score silver medal team.

The 12-to score team was completed by Michael Major (41st 42.45), Chris Fullerton (42nd 42.49), Harry Collins (46th 43.00), Lee McMeekin M45 (52nd 43.24), Chris Rampling (59th 44.12) and Daniel St Martin (63rd 44.32).

Further team places were completed by Justin Lane M40 (69th 44.55), Gareth Williams M50 (95th 47.26), Adam Featherstone M45 (106th 48.00), Alun Rodgers M50 (114th 48.30), Sean Rodwell (123rd 49.19), Stephen McGlyn M40 (132nd 50.07) and Bob Fursey M50 (142nd 51.16).

The U20 Men picked up team bronze. Marley Godden (8th), Simon Habtom (19th) and Jacques Cunningham-Marsh (22nd) completed the winning trio. Lorcan Rodgers was 35th.

The U17 Men exceeded all expectations and won the team bronze for the second consecutive year.  With 4 athletes to score in each team, Ben Hughes led the team with an individual placing of 14th, supported by Alex Donnelly 16th, Dan McGlynn 19th & George Wallace 21st. Other athletes which competed Jude Gordon (25th), Luke Stringer (34th), Finlay MacDonald (36th). The U20 Men also matched the U17 team with a team bronze. Marley Godden (8th), Simon Habtom (19th) and Jacques Cunningham-Marsh (22nd) completed the winning trio. Other athlete competing Lorcan Rodgers (35th)

The U15 boys team improved on their league form to take a deserved bronze medal. They were lead home by Ethan Gear in 7th place, Joe Hollands in 36th place, Cameron Featherstone in 37th place and Callum Featherstone in 45th. There was also valuable support from Kelechi Ryan in 56th and Finn Rodgers in 63rd.

The U13 boys continued the form that saw them win the team trophy in the Kent Cross Country League. Hayden Gear was unlucky to miss out on an individual bronze when finishing 4th but excellent packing by Alistair Shelley in 6th, Ollie Brownridge in 7th and Kaz Gogol in 16th saw them home in first place a single point ahead of Tonbridge AC. Jay Trimmer in 36th, Ethan Rollings in 39th and Elliot Chamberlain in 42nd also had good runs.

It was good to see 8 Senior Woman tackling the 8050m course. The team finished in 5th place in the 3 to score and 4th in the 6 to score. Jemma Whyman was first across the line (28th, 35.49) followed by Jenny Fowler M40 (33rd, 36.32) and closing the 3 to score, a strong run by Antel Muller (35th, 36.42).  Taryne McPherson M40 (46th 37.36) and Kerrie Clarke (47th, 37.37) had a battle in the finishing straight with Rachael Stewart M40 (60th 38.54) closing the 6 to score team. There was strong backing by Claire Wilkins M35 (69th, 40.02) followed closely by Mo Fazakerley M55  (71st, 40.06)

The Under 17 women’s race was 6100 metres and M&M had two stalwarts out racing this distance across the fields of Brands Hatch. Charlotte Young was first back in 8th place and Kerry Dewberry finished 26th. Unfortunately three athletes are required to register a team score so M&M did not get placed in the team event in this age group.
In the Under 15 girls race (4400 metres), Anna Palmer was first back for M&M in 7th place, followed by Annabel Young in 18th place and Fern Curran in 27th place.  Next back for M&M were Rachel Anderson in 28th, Martha Tatnell in 33rd, Sarah Mitchell in 37th, Katie Stringer in 45th and Ciara Harrop in 49th. The Under 15 Girls were fourth in the team competition and missed out on the bronze medal by only five points.
The Under 13 girls ran a distance of 3050 metres – Abigail Royden was first M&M across the line in 13th place, followed by Mia Colyer in 18th and Elizabeth Fry in an excellent 29th place in her first competitive cross country race for the club.  They were followed by Lily Crossley (39th), Molly Marsh (46th), Beth Palmer (52nd) and Melissa Cagan (53rd). The U13 girls finished 4th in the team event.