Best ever results for WSEH AC at Saucony 2022 English National Cross Country Championships

After missing a season due to Covid-19, the National Cross Country Championships returned to Parliament Hill, London on Saturday 26^th March, the venue where it was due to take place in 2021. The course was as tough and muddy as always and for many of the WSEH AC athletes it was their chance to compete in their 1^st ever national cross country.

With 3 top 10 placings and 3 team medals, it was probably the club’s best ever national championship result.

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Jake Meyburgh continued his winter success by taking an emphatic 21 second win in the U13 Boys’ race. Backed up by James Farley 102^nd, George Hilliar 119^th, Aaron Shiel 170^th, Bals Rivero-Stevenet 196^th and Josh Jarvis 212^th the team finished 15^th.

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Finishing in 8th place, Luke Birdseye led the U17 Men’s team to a fine silver medal supported by Oliver Emment 15th, Frank McGrath 46th and Josh Mingoia 64th. In addition, Alex Bishop was 68th, George Thomas 136th, Toby Spencer 138th, Sam Johnston 188th and Julina Abass 250th.

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Running her 1^st ever race at national level, Ella Davey ran brilliantly for 6^th place and with Abigail Farley in 39^th, Eloisa Symonds 51^st and Stephanie Massie 119^th the team were highly delighted when they were announced as winners of the bronze medals. Aashni Manek was not far behind in 150^th and Ana Passos finished 252^nd.

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The U17 Women were our 3^rd team medallists with Rachel Clutterbuck 12^th, Freya Ruffels 22^nd, Jemima Ridley 25^th and Kiki Webb 35^th. Jess Hatch was just a few seconds behind in 37^th, Lottie Dewar was 53^rd, Keshni Manek 106^th, Hannah Woolley 127^th and Tamara Hibbins 140^th.

Our U15 Boys’ team also finished  in 15th position with Benjamin Dewar 74th, Thomas Taylor 94th, Marcus Hibbins 102nd, James McSharry 179th, Jack Phillpotts 200th, Archie Robinson 202nd, Nathan Rollins 220th, Evan Hardy 236th and Sohan Nath 314th.

Zoe Allan, with another year in the age group, was our best placed U13 Girl, finishing in 23^rd place. Tara Ferguson, who also has another year as U13 was 60^th, Phoebe Fuller 143^rd and Sofia Sabbah 374^th

Sam Hodgson was our top finisher in the U20 Men’s race with an excellent 24th position. Along with Matty Smith in 46th, Tom Chandler 58th and Charles Kershaw 65th, the team just missed out on a podium place, coming 4th. In addition, Liam Stone was 75th, Raphael Rivero-Stevenet 108th, Will Goddard 111th, Jack Campbell 138th, Luke Hynes 157th and Jordi Evans-Rodriguez 166th.

Following up from her strong run in the Southern Championships, Jasmine Young finished 28^th in the U20 Women’s race, with Lily Rolfe finishing 98^th.

The Senior Men’s event was the largest race of the day with 2,089 finishers. With 6 to score, Marcus Shantry finished 109th, Sebastian Cirillo 225th, Hugo Donovan 285th, Mark Vardy 350th, James Walker 677th and Toby Rowlands 885th the WSEH team placed 32nd.

Sadly the club wasn’t able to finish a team in the Senior Women’s race. Out of 1,011 finishers, Isabelle Rayner was our 1^st Senior Women’s representative in 168^th with Natalie Thompson 364^th and Juliet Soane 692^nd.

Congratulations to coaches Shireen Higgins, Patrick McGrath, Trevor Raggett and Conrad Milton.

Full results available here.