National
Cross Country Championships – Parliament
Hill
- Saturday 22 February 2003
Megan Foley ran superbly to
claim individual silver in the under 15 race at the National Cross Country Championships
at the tough Parliament Hill course, Hampstead on Saturday.
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Just two weeks after her Inter Counties bronze
medal showing Megan went one better this time to take silver in the national
event, compared to her 15th place finish in last year's event. Katie Richardson
again showed impressive form, as she finished a superb fifth - a massive
improvement on last year's 33rd in the u13 age group. And with excellent
runs from Robyn Matson (38th) and Helen Roche (58th) the quartet's reward was
third place and bronze medals in the team stakes making up for the
disappointment of last year when the team was fourth, 22 points outside the
medals. Vicky Smith (71st) and Lauren McVicar (212th) were also in action. Debbie
Sullivan and Faye Fullerton were the only club members to fly the flag in the
senior and junior women's events and both showed improved form. Debbie was
seventh in her event, within striking distance of the medals, a big step up on
her 24th in the recent Inter Counties. Faye was eighth in the u20 race, and
although four places down on last year, it was a welcome improvement on her 18th
in the Nottingham event, after her injury hit nine months.
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Megan Foley
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With the national event incorporating u13 and u15
boys' races for the first time the club had been optimistic of good results.
Unfortunately illness and injury meant depleted teams took the shine off good
performances. In the u13 race the team suffered withdrawals of three members
with Scott Tungatt and Grant Twist out with a virus, and Paul Adair suffering a
hamstring strain. In their absence Bradley Tungatt placed 16th while Matthew
Watkins returned after illness to place 55th. With Matthew Read 177th and Simon
Brown (199th) the team were 17th, rather than possibly challenging for medals
had the team been at their strongest. Joe Webster also ran.
In the u15 event with in-form Ashley Reece also
out due to a virus, and Aaron Churchhouse unavailable the team placed 19th,
headed by Ross Clarke's 42nd position, with Andrew Luck (117th) and David Nefs
(155th) both running well although lacking race fitness, and Paul Andrews 181st,
with Christian Newton providing valuable support.
Sara Luck placed 35th in the u17 ladies event,
with Laura Moore (117th) and Jenny Szantai (119th) also competing, although the
team was incomplete.
The u13 girls team place a respectable 12th with
the well matched Hayley Thomas and Clare Robinson leading the way in 55th and
57th. Michaela Roberts (113th) and Alex Watkins (140th) completed the scoring
four, with Rachel Newman (244th) also taking part.
Just two club members each competed in the men's
u17 and senior races. In the younger age group Andrew Meech was 101st and
Daryl Rogers 198th, while in the senior men's category only Rob Warner (295th)
and Matt Bland (528th) tackled the grueling 12km course.
Results
Senior Men
295th- Rob Warner ; 528 - Matt Bland - 54:26
Under 17 Men
101st - Andrew Meech 26:14; 198th - Daryl Rogers -
29:45
Under 15 boys
42nd - Ross Clarke 19:46; 117th
- Andrew Luck - 21:00; 155th - David Nefs - 21:37; 181st - Paul Andrews - 22:07;
Team 19th
256th - Christian Newton - 24:57
Under 13 boys
16th - Bradley Tungatt 13:04; 55th
- Matthew Watkins - 13:45; 176th - Matthew Read - 15:05; 199th - Simon Brown -
15:37; Team 17th
213th - Joe Webster - 15:57
Senior Women
7th - Debbie Sullivan - 34:25
Under 20 Women
8th - Faye Fullerton 21:39
Under 17 Women
35th - Sara Luck 23:51; 117th - Laura Moore -
29:21; 119th - Jenny Szantai - 26:55
Under 15 Girls
2nd - Megan Foley 18:30; 5th -
Katie Richardson - 18:55; 38th - Robyn Matson 20:11; 58th - Helen Roche - 21:01
Team 3rd 71st - Vicky Smith
21:21; 212th - Lauren McVicar - 25:00
Under 13 Girls
55th - Hayley Thomas 15:20; 57th - Clare Robinson
15:23; 113th - Michaela Roberts - 16:15; 140t - Alex Watkins - 16:46; Team
12th; 244th - Rachel Newman 20:05