Big Harriers entry for cross country races
Team manager Jimmy Johnson said: “We have a good squad and I expect them to be in contention for medals. Maybe Morpeth and Gateshead will be too strong for us, but there is three sets of medals up for grabs.
“We only have one doubt to the team in Michael Wilson, who has been suffering from shin splints and is still undecided on whether to run. But the rest of the team are fully focussed and looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
They are Liam Taylor who makes his championship debut, Steve Rankin, Andy Powell, Nathan Reed, Craig Gunn, Chris Jackson and Michael Barker.
Both Gunn and Rankin were in good form at the weekend in clocking personal bests in parkruns. Gunn won at Silksworth in 16.38 and Rankin did likewise at Herrington Country Park in 16.55.
Sunderland Harriers women, bronze medallists at Redcar two years ago, will be led by Gemma Frost and
Jenna Wilkinson.
Houghton Harriers will be relying on their younger athletes to deliver their expected medals. The Under-17 Men’s team sees Will Bellamy and Henry Johnson in the chase for individual and team medals. Bellamy could be in a battle with Middlesbrough’s Archie Lowe for the battle for gold.
The rest of the Houghton team is Samuel Gibson, Chris Coulson, Luke Pye, Jack Seeney, Izaak Taylor.
Houghton’s Cameron Allan will go into the Junior Men’s race as one of the favourites and will take on Wallsend’s Sam Charlton, who won every title available to him last season.
The Houghton Under-17 women’s team of Laura Megan Greggs, Lydia James, Amy Leonard, Nicole Phillips, Anna Pigford, will also be looking to medal.
The first three finishers in the county championships will have automatic selection for North Eastern teams for the Inter Counties Championships at Loughborough on March 7.
The Northern Championships on Saturday January 25 at Camp Hill, Bedale, will indicate current form and teams will be selected the following day. If athletes are unable to run the Northerns, all other cross-country races will be taken into account, if the selectors are informed.
The Alnwick course is the same as one the used for the Harrier League but on an extended course that covers three laps of 4k. The women cover 8k with two laps.
Timetable: 11am – U13 boys, 11.15 - U13 Girls, 11.30 - U15 Boys, 11.45 U15 Girls, 12.00 - U17 Men, 12.20 U17/20 Women, 12.45 - U20 Men, 1.15 - Senior Men, Senior Women, 14.10.