Golden day for Mansfield Harriers at the Midland Championships
Mansfield Harriers travelled to the prestigious Midland spring road relay championships at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield with teams in every age group and category.
The men and women raced over 5.47K with twelve legs for the men and six for the women with the young athletes racing in teams of three over 5K all on a challenging course.
The day turned out to be a golden one for the Mansfield young athletes, with the club taking team medals in all six events including four gold and three individual champions, which clearly shows the young athletes are one of the best teams in the Midlands.
Both the men and women put in impressive performances with the women placing 10th and one short of a complete B team with the men eleventh.
First out was the Under 13 races, and a superb run from Scarlett Brumfitt saw her come home in a new PB of 19.19 to be crowned Midland Under 13 5K champion. After a steady start, Scarlett powered on through the second half of the race to come home a clear winner.
A fantastic team performance saw the girls crowned Midland Champions as Lauren Pate came 9th in 21.23, Esme Evan recorded a massive PB of 21.28 for 10th and Evelyn Wheat recorded 21.54 to come home 13th. Fantastic team packing saw the Under 13 boys take a clear team gold through Denny Thurgood 6th in 18.37, Jack Pares 7th 18.47 and Harvey Evans 8th 18.52.
Evie Clifton put in a terrific display of front running in the Under 15 girls race, leading from gun to tape she was crowned Midland Champion in a swift 18.17. Strong running from Myanie Westwood 4th 19.10 and Isla Millns 5th 19.47 saw the girls take the Midland team crown. The Under 15 boys all performed strongly to take a team bronze with Mihnea Radu leading the team home in 10th recording 18.25 followed by Harry Tonks 16th 19.21 and Will McClemens 22nd 21.18.
In the Under 17 races Jack Pares displayed a superb racing strategy, always in the leading group, he surged through the field as he came into the final uphill to the finish to claim the Midland title in 15.54. Making his debut for the club and showing great promise for the future Lewis Marston came 5th in 16.08, Ollie McClemens 9th 16.27, Charlie Taylor 10th in 16.36 and in a massive PB Hugo Welsby recorded 17.13 for 19th with the team being crowned Midland Champions. The Under 17 women took a team silver medal Emily Pares first back in 7th 20.08, Keira Morley 10th 21.19 and Amelia Arbon 11th 21.51.
The women were looking for a top fifteen place and an inspired team performance saw them just sneak in the top ten. With everyone of the women making a big contribution to the team Amelia Corke went out first bringing the team home in 23rd recording 23.16.
Carolyn Hay charged through the field recording 21.10 as the team came back 16th, Kath Malone stabilised the 16th position with 22.12, Katie Leese brough them into 15th recording 22.43, Kirsty Huntington moved the team up to 13th with 23.26 and a superb anchor leg from Katrina Prior pushed the team to 10th recording 22.32. For the B team Sarah Maston recorded 23.30, Gillian Newbould 23.46, Helen Pritchett 24.30, Hannah Colton 25.08 and Amy Newbould 25.00.
The men put out a solid team that was also looking for a top fifteen place against the best teams in the Midlands in what is one of the classic events of the year. Eddie Holden showed maturity beyond his years going out on the traditional cavalry charge that is leg one as he brough the team home in 11th place recording 17.10.
Continuing his recent excellent form Alex Hampson had a phenomenal run on the second leg recording 16.32 as he brough the team home in 2nd place followed by terrific runs from two more of the outstanding crop of Under 20 men that the club currently have with Jacob Nugent bringing the team back in 3rd with 17.12 and Jude Ryan coming home 4th clocking 17.17.
Adam Wright picked up the challenge on leg 5 coming home in 6th recording 19.41 followed by Dave Leese who came home 10th with 21.10, Dan Wheat ran strongly recording 18.36 coming home in 11th a place retained by Liam Watson who recorded 17.41. The final four legs held the 11th position with Josh Mitchell recording 18.05, Lewis Boswell 18.18, Darren Powell 20.35 and Dan Nugent 18.38.