Suffolk youngsters impress at South of England Cross Country Championships

Ipswich Harriers enjoyed several top 20 finishes at the annual South of England Cross Country Championships, staged on the usual punishing course on Parliament Hill Fields, Hamsptead Heath, in north-west London on Saturday.

The thick mud of recent years was absent this time around, but runners still had to master the steep inclines along a brutal route that features very few stretches of flat.

Nathan Goodard was the Harriers’ best-placed finisher, taking an impressive 12th spot in the under-15 boys’ race. Also in this age group, Tai Elvin-Andrews finised 60th, with club-mate Harvey Gladwell 229th.

An in-form Alex Lawrence finished 13th in the under-20 men’s age group. Lawrence had won the second meeting in the Suffolk Winter League at Woodbridge.

Another Harrier to finish high up the field in his race was Tom Adams. He was a superb 14th in the under-17 men’s section.

Also in the under-17 race, Harriers’ Adel Hamed ran well in 21st spot, backed up by Alex Tripp (45th), Jack Grady (54th) and Matt Snowdon (56th).

The Harriers narrowly missed out on a team medal in this age group, finishing fourth team.

Elsewhere, Freddie Adams led the Harriers to eighth in the teamn stakes in the under-13 boys’ race. Adams was 24th.

Oliver Hitchcock (57th), Kit Evans-Lombe (74th, Elliott Gladwell (89th), Joshua Cook (142nd) and Max Fisher (144th) were also in action in the under-13 event.

Tilly Aldis spearheaded the Harriers in the under-13 girls’ age category, claiming 23rd spot. Bea Thomas took 65th.

Holly Fisher also featured prominently in the under-15 girls’ race. She was 24th, supported by Mimi Salsby (61st), Katie Challinor (78th) and Imi Bowyer (216th). The team were 15th overall.

Finally for the Harriers, Abigail Rose registered 25th position in the under-20 women’s race.

Meanwhile, Megan Newton led the way for West Suffolk AC, finishing a fine 13th in the under-17 women’s race. The Saint Edmund Pacers duo of Alice Bell (130th) and Ellie Temple (151st) also competed.

West Suffolk’s Thomas McCarthy was 97th in the under-17 men’s event, just ahead of Pacers’ Joe Robson (101st) and West Suffolk’s James Preston (105th).

JAFFA’s Paul Wain was 35th under-20 man, with West Suffolk’s Jacob Freeborough in 40th.

Elsewhere, Pacers’ Lewis Sullivan caught the eye with 16th in the under-13 boys’ event, with JAFFA’s Edward Osborn (133rd) and Pacers’ Oscar Woodward (143rd) also in action.

West Suffolk’s Molly Howell (213th) and Libby Stinson (265th) took part in the under-13 girls’ race, as did Pacers’ Rhian O’Brien (235th).

Pacers’ Kristen O’Brien was 171st among the under-15 girls, followed by West Suffolk’s Chloe Cavill (205th), Maisy Cailes (211th) and C McKeagh (233rd), plus Pacers’ Eden Handy (240th).

Other Suffolk finishers in the under-17 men’s field included Pacers’ Steven Quercia-Smale (135th), West Suffolk’s Joshua Walker (136th) and JAFFA’s Conner Bilner (161st).