SEAA Cross Country Champs 2016

The weather conditions were good for the many hundreds of athletes who competed in the annual South of England Cross Country Championships held at Parliament Hill Fields, Hampstead on Saturday 30th January. Despite the chilly wind there was bright sunshine for most of the races, although the going was tough with the courses quickly becoming very muddy underfoot. Following her excellent third place in the Herts County Championships Lizzy Janes quickly made her determination clear from the start of the Senior Women’s race, being right up with the leading runners as she started the second lap and maintaining this position before putting in a very strong run to the finish to just miss out of the medals in fourth place. Despite the mud not being his favourite conditions Jamie Philpott further extended his fine form to take an excellent 6th place in the Under 17 Men’s race, having moved steadily up to the leading runners and then finishing very fast through the thick mud to overtake two or three runners in the run in to the line. There were also very pleasing results from Nathanael Zapico and Joe Smith in the Under 15 Boys’ race and Adam Hughes in the Under 17 Men’s race. Although he normally competes in much shorter races on the track Dave Stephens decided to have a different, but “enjoyable” day out by competing in the Senior Men’s race.

Individual Results

Under 15 Boys – approx 4500 metres

Nathanael Zapico 102nd 18.46

Joe Smith 104th 18.47

271 finishers

Under 17 Men – approx 6000 metres

Jamie Philpott 6th 20.54

Adam Hughes 92nd 23.34

173 finishers

Senior Men – approx 15000 metres

David Stephens 909th 1:21.27

1026 finishers

Senior Women – approx 8000 metres

Lizzy Janes 4th 31.00

501 finishers