RunningWest Suffolk ACTHE under-13 girls posted the highest position for West Suffolk AC, as the Bury club fielded eight teams at the annual Saucony English National Cross Country Relays, staged at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield.

Running

West Suffolk AC

THE under-13 girls posted the highest position for West Suffolk AC, as the Bury club fielded eight teams at the annual Saucony English National Cross Country Relays, staged at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield.

West Suffolk's under-13 girls' team were bronze-medal winners at the recent South of England Road Relays. They were not quite able to reproduce that form, but were still a good 11th out of 62 teams.

Maddy Davies in particular was unhappy with her race. Boxed in after a slow start, she was unable to regain touch with the leaders and her slower than hoped for time of 7mins 58secs (2,000m) set second leg runner Holly Turner off in 22nd place.

Turner clocked 8.13 to move the team to 17th at the final changeover, where Holly Archer again anchored the team home with a fast leg of 7.49.

The “B” team of Grace Waters (8.29), Stacey Marriott (8.58) and Sarah Bibby (8.49) showed the squad's depth in this age group with an excellent 44th place.

New squad member Alex Groiss led off for the under-15 boys' team. He was 55th in 7.06 (2,000m), before second leg runner Charlie Fry moved the team up 29 places with 6.43. Alex Dunbar followed suit with 6.50 for a final position of 21st.

West Suffolk's under-15 girls' team had mixed fortunes. Kayleigh Samuels, promoted to the “A” team, was 51st, just one second behind Franny Waterhouse (8.00 in 49th) of the incomplete “B” team.

Abbie Marriott (7.27) lifted the team to 23rd, although Kelly Barnard was disappointed with her performance on the anchor leg, registering 7.58 for 22nd place. Franny Davis clocked 8.33 for the “B” team.

Helen Waters (10.20 over 2,500m) led off West Suffolk's under-17 women's team. Nicola Morgan (9.11) and Zara McLoone (9.51) lifted the team up to 19th from a field of 44.

The under-17 men's team finished a fine 15th from 58 teams, thanks to an exceptional first leg display from Ed Fry (19th with 9.40 for 3,000m). Michael Cripps had another solid run in 10.00, before Andrew Ridley, who was suffering the effects of a cold, managed a still impressive 9.44. The “B” team was 38th overall, made up of Andy Waterhouse (10.13), Tom Smith (10.27) and Paul Mayes (10.21).

n Meanwhile, West Suffolk AC's under-17 men finished second team at the first meeting in this season's Reebok Cross Country Series, staged from Sennellys Park, Birmingham.