HPX @ Hertfordshire Cross Country Championships 2016

This year’s Cross Country Championships were held at Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage on Sunday 10th January, when Herts Phoenix endurance runners enjoyed a very successful day with some outstanding performances by the athletes.

John Eves led from the gun at the start of the Senior Men’s race and had built a lead of about 20 metres over the second placed athlete by the start of the final lap, only to be closed right down by the second placed athlete on the last before making a long decisive break for home to win quite comfortably by about 50 metres. Jamie Philpott threw down the gauntlet right at the start of the under 17 men’s event and ran an aggressive but controlled race to finish very strongly in winning the Gold Medal and lead his club mates to second place in the team competition. Vinny Clarke had started the medal rush by winning the under 11boys’ race and with his team mates won the bronze medal for third place in the team event.

Elizabeth Janes won a very well deserved bronze medal for third place in an exciting Senior Women’s race which was keenly contested throughout and was only decided over the last metres of the race with just 12 seconds separating the first three runners who finished well clear of the rest of the field. Alicia Found also finished in third place in the under 20 women’s race, while Freya Stapleton had a very good race to win the bronze medal in the under 13 Girls’ race. Bryce Breen, in an exciting sprint to the line just held off his team mates and training partners Ben Crooks and Daniel Gill to take third place with the three boys winning the team event and being awarded the Gold Medals.

Individual results

Under 11 girls – approx 1500 metres

Niamh Kelly 7th 8.25, Charlotte Hobson 16th 9.34

20 finishers

Under 13 Girls – approx 3000 metres

Freya Stapleton 3rd 16.32, Katie Lloyd 17th 18.33, Sarah Crooks 20th 18.50, Emily Nicolson 32nd 22.15

32 finishers – Team 5th

Under 15 Girls – approx 4500 metres

Ella Taylor 15th 25.52

29 finishers

Under 20 Women – approx 6000 metres

Alicia Found 3rd 26.20, Elizabeth Parry 4th 26.23

10 finishers

Senior Women – approx 8000 metres

Elizabeth Janes 3rd 29.30, Deborah Rushman 16th 35.07, Elizabeth Doyle 37th 39.55

70 finishers

Under 11 Boys – approx 1500 metres

Vinny Clarke 1st 7.51, Jamie Roper 14th 9.28, Milo Bowen 16th 9.40

18 finishers – Team 3rd

Under 13 Boys – approx 3000 metres

Bryce Breen 3rd 15.11, Ben Crooks 4th 15.11, Daniel Gill 5th 15.12, Callum Nicolson 9th 15.54, William Hughes 14th 16.26

24 finishers – Team 1st

Under 15 Boys – approx 4500 metres

Joe Smith 12th 21.28, Elliot Breen 15th 21.59, Brett Rushman 16th 22.02

27 finishers – Team 3rd

Under 17 Men – approx 6000 metres

Jamie Philpott 1st 21.05, Beck Grover 7th 22.43, Adam Hughes 9th 23.20

20 finishers – Team 2nd

Senior Men – approx 12000 metres

John Eves 1st 40.00, David Stephens 101st 58.37

126 finishers