Mansfield Harriers compete at the National Cross Country Championships.
The National Cross Country Championships are one of the highlights of the winter for club athletes with this year the event being held at Hardwick East Park, Sedgefield, County Durham.
Mansfield Harriers sent six athletes to the event, all having terrific races making the top 100 which is always the benchmark of a great run.
Charley Whysall had the race of her life in the Under 15 girls event covering 4000 metres. Charley went to the front of the leading pack very early and remained with the breakaway group for most of the race. The top three broke away with just over 1000 metres to run but Charley showing her trademark determination hung in and came home in a phenomenal 4th place. This run puts Charley amongst the best athletes in the country at this age and also in a great place for the rest of the winter and going forward.
Alex Hampson is going from strength to strength and after a series of fine runs this winter Alex towed the line in the massive field in the senior men over 12K. Alex started well and throughout the race worked through the field looking stronger as the race went on to finish in a terrific 36th place.
The senior women raced over 8K and Molly Peel was the only Mansfield entry. Another who has had a terrific winter, Molly put in a superb run at Sedgefield to finish in 45th place.
Jacob Nugent competed with the junior men covering a distance of 10K. Jacob is looking to peak for the English Schools and deliberately went out hard in the run. Being the bottom age of the three year age group, this was a brave attempt and he was rewarded with 38th place. Katie Leese raced with the junior women over 6K and like Jacob she is the bottom end of the three year age group. Katie also put in a terrific run to come home in 73rd place. Catherine Rivis completed the team racing 3K in the under 13 girls championship. In her first race at this level Catherine came in a very pleasing 83rd.
Esme Evans travelled to Falkirk in Scotland to race in the Scottish National Championships where she placed 34th in the Under 13 girls race.
The British Senior Indoor Championships were held the weekend before at the National Indoor Arena at Birmingham. It was a tremendous achievement for Beth Hamilton to be invited to this star studded event and particularly pleasing for the club as Beth has developed from a promising Under 11 to a fantastic senior. In a tactical race of the highest quality, she was always close to the leaders only to lose out on the final lap.
Five Mansfield athletes travelled to Northern Ireland to compete in the Armagh International Road Races. Racing over 5K, James McCrae had been struggling recently with tendonitis for the previous 10 days but managed to put in a strong run to record 14.33, followed by Jacob Nugent 14.47, Dan Nugent 1550 and Dan Wheat 16.36. Hayley Gill ran in the 3K for women recording an impressive 10.16 which also earned her first F50 position.