Brothers secure a top six place in opener
A NUMBER of young athletes from Stratford upon Avon Athletic Club (SUAAC) were involved in the opening round of the West Midlands Young Athlete Cross Country League at Walsall Arboretum.
First it was the u17 girls, racing over approximately 4,000m. SUUAC’s Annie Silvers made a strong start and had a super race, overtaking in the finishing stretch to place 24th in a time of 15:57. Brooke Rossney and Hannah Wilkinson showed grit and determination to finish 42nd and 51st in 17:35 and 20:31 respectively.
Next were the u11 boys which was a fast and furious race where the club had real strength in depth. A field of 105 runners resulted in some jostling for position, particularly when bunching at the slower corners.
Albert Moore looked very strong and was the club’s first finisher, 25th in a time of 6:00, followed by Rafe White (44th/6:18), Dexter Sharpe (46th/6:19), Dylan Turner (52nd/6:22), Reuben Wheeler (79th/6:48), Luca Armstrong (81st/6:51) and Simon Zawada (95th/7:09).
The longest race of the day, at approximately 4,800m, was the u17 boys. There was a very quick start by the Lambert brothers, with Sam at the front in his league u17 debut, followed closely by brother Zak.
By the start of the third of three tough laps, the eventual winner Archie Lane (Leamington C & AC) pulled away from the field but Stratford’s runners showed their experience and stamina.
Sustaining an excellent pace throughout, Sam took second place in 14:33 and Zak finished strongly to finish sixth in 15:02. Next for SUAAC was Will Mayes (11th/15:19), followed by Tom Fisher (12th/15:23), James Day (22nd/16:02) and James Mayes (29th/16:31). The results were particularly impressive given that, along with many of the Stratford athletes, they had raced the day before.
Next up were the u11 girls and another super six SUAAC team. Running strongly throughout was Elsie Pipitone who finished 11th with a time of 6:03. She was followed by Saskia Atkins (58th/6:59), Marnie Short (61st/7:02), Poppy West (63rd/7:06), Indigo Storm Ogilvie-Putt (78th/7:30) and Imogen Jolly (79th7:36).
For the u15 boys race, there was a quality SUUAC contingent of three. Joel Ledgard looked particularly assured and relaxed, finishing an impressive sixth in 10:08. Will Hovell finished strongly one place behind in 10:11 and Arthur Williamson, returning after missing last season, improved his position during the final lap to finish 19th in 10:40.
It was then the u13 girls and the largest field of the day, with 110 athletes. There was a fabulous show of strength and stamina from the Stratford runners, with excellent races from Amelie Marshall (14th/9:31) and Maggie Silvers (19th/9:34). Lyla Turner moved through the field to take 32nd in 9:55 and Jasmine Mothershaw dug deep for 47th (10:15).
When the u13 boys ran, the course was at the point where it was eating shoes with one lad losing his and only managing to put the front half on before somehow continuing. Robin Gallagher ran an assured race for tenth on his u13 league debut, in a time of 8:33. He was followed by Charlie-Jay Cassells (42nd/9:14) and Toby Wilkinson (46th/9:24).
Last up were the u15 girls where Marijke Tear-Verweij acquitted herself characteristically well to finish a strong seventh in 11:25 followed by Elle Weir (34th/12:51), Lois Ford (37th/12:54) and Rachel Sparrow (59th/13:37).
