Mansfield Harriers shine in North Midlands Cross Country League opener

Mansfield Harriers had another strong start to the North Midlands Cross Country season, with individual wins for Evie Clifton and Fraser McAllister and team victories for the Senior Men, Masters Men and Masters Ladies, whilst the Under-16 Girls tied at the top with Derby AC.

Under-12s - Mansfield had three runners in total across both girls and boys, so could not field a full team in either race. Lucy Pate was first home for Mansfield in the girls’ race in 23rd place, followed by Erin Huntington in 43rd. Sebastian Wheat was the club’s only Under-12 boy on the start line and finished a creditable 37th.

Under-14s – Strong performances from the two Mansfield girls competing, but there wasn’t enough to push the team score upwards. Both girls however ran really well on the day, Scarlett Brumfitt finished a clear second having trailed the leader for most of the race whilst gapping the remaining field and Isla Huntington backed her up with an excellent ninth place finish.

Under-16s – Proved to be Mansfield’s first win of the day in the Under-16 girls, where Evie Clifton won very commandingly after going off with the leading boys and never looked back. Catherine Rivis again ran up to form with a strong eighth place, whilst Evelyn Wheat came home a progressive 15th and Lauren Pate a hard earned 25th. Overall, the team sit on equal points with Derby at the top of the league so all to play for going forward.

Under-18s - Mansfield had five runners in the Under-18 girls. Myanie Westwood was the first Mansfield athlete to finish in a very good seventh, with Emily Pares just a short length behind her in tenth, both continuing their recent good start to this winter season. Isla Milns and Lucy Beardsmore crossed the line almost together in 15th and 16th respectively, Keira Morley 19th and Martha Walker came back in 22nd.

Fraser McAllister gave the club its second individual win on the day in the Under-18 men’s race, leading from gun to finish, taking victory despite falling twice and taking a slight detour, nothing disrupted his confident lead. Harry Tonks ran composed for 19th with Joe Parker next to finish in 20th, in his first race in Mansfield colours.

Ladies - Helen Jones was first Mansfield lady home in 25th looking confident throughout, followed by Kirsty Huntington 28th, Kath Malone-Brumfitt 41st and Sarah Maston 52nd. Kahli Johnson smiled her way round the whole 6k course to a strong 70th, and Megan Taylor was 80th in her first race at the longer distance in accompaniment with some of her university colleagues, and Helen Pritchett 82nd. Jemma Arbon finished 93rd and Sharon Armitage 108th to complete a strong team performance. With the athletes competing the harriers were able to win the masters ladies race by a clear 89 points from Long Eaton, while the senior team somewhat depleted from placing the master’s ahead finished 14th in what was a strong field.

Men - Mansfield men filled four of the first six finishing positions, having blocked the head of the field in the slightly less than 10k race. James McCrae was second after a long battle tailing the winner from Newark for all 3 laps pulling clear of the remaining field, Eddie Holden finished third and first Under-20 after kicking on during the 3rd lap and pulling in the university athlete in front of him, showing great form on his return to cross country.

Jacob Nugent, again returning to form after injury, was fifth, with Liam Watson coming through the field close behind in sixth. Jude Ryan was 11th and Chris Patterson 12th. Dan Nugent 22nd, Jan Bailey 30th and Dan Wheat 31st completed the Masters team. U20 Charlie Taylor was 41st in his first race at the longer distance and Adam Holland 44th. Reece Carver, also racing the distance for the first time, was 62nd. Andy Walker finished 159th, Stuart Whysall 172nd and Andy Wetherill 212th.

The Mansfield senior men won the team race by a commanding 117 points from Notts AC and also secured the lead in the master’s men by a clear 80 points.

The team moves onward in a great position for the next league race in November with the long trip down to Corby, normally a differentiator in the season.