Series off to a flying opening
Contd from back page
Close behind the top three in the A race were two of Chichester top veterans, Mike Houston just getting the better of Jo Corbett in 14.11 and 14.14 respectively.
Teamwise, Rob Fryer in 8th led previous winners Dstl Portsdown to a comfortable lead in the Corporate category while the two Hampshire based training groups of Team Purser and Solent Endurance wre split by a minute.
In the women’s race there was a fine exhibition from Florence East in her first year in the senior age group. The 16-year-old daughter of previous men’s record holder and former 1500m Commonwealth Games champion Michael East, she became one of the few women to break the 15-minute barrier with 14.53.
Fellow U17 Chloe Jones was next to finish, just under a minute back, while a trio of Chichester athletes made the top 10 with Charlote Reading, Anya Barrett and Grace Wills separated by just three seconds.
Three strong sports teams lead the standings with Portsmouth AC leading Worthing Harriers U17s by nearly three minutes with the Chichester trio third.
Oakwood school staff lead the corporate category.
Primary schools
Racing started with the primary school races, with nearly 400 runners involved.
Rocco Hughes of Downview led the Year 6 boys and held off Charlie Carman from St Mary’s Climping with Theo Rehill from Kingsham third.
Nathaniel Jolly, also from Kingsham, led the Year 5 boys home in front of Frank Keeler from West Wittering and Charlie Galea from PGS.
In the team standings
Downview and Kingsham are tied on aggregate time with Southbourne hot on their heels.
For the girls, Oakwood’s Emmy Pemberton led from start to finish in the Year 6 race holding off two strong Hampshire athletes while Amelie Adams of Bosham won the Year 5 race from Leah Stopps of North Mundham and Imogen Youghusband from West Dean.
Oakwood have a clear lead of a minute over Chidham with Walberton & Binstead third.
Secondary schools
Previous schools winners have gone on to fine careers as seniors and this year’s crop look to have great promise.
In the girls’ race a trio of Hampshire athletes dominated the Year 9 race with Molly Smithers of Chichester High School the only runner to go with them, easily winning the Year 10 race.
Isabella Lendrum of Bishop Luffa was a good third in the Year 8 race following Freya Briggs from Portsmouth and Phoebe Concannon from Churchers.
Portsmouth was to the fore in the Year 7 girls’ race but Ormiston Six Villages Academy took top team spot.
In the boys’ race Year 9’s Ben Stewart from Bishop Luffa won well in one of the fastest ever times from his age group. Oakley Snipe was a few seconds adrift while the leading Year 10 was Stanley Wilkes from Bishop Luffa.
The Year 7 and 8 boys run a lap less and Oliver Cameron won the Y7 race with Hugo Johnson from Chichester Free school second. St Philip Howard took the team lead.
In the Year 8 boys’ race Luca di Giovanni got the better of Bishop Luffa duo Max Gayle and Joe Stewart, all inside the all-time top10 finishes. Bishop Luffa lead the team standings. The next races are next Wednesday, March 13.