Carl eases to victory in cross country run
CARL AVERY comfortably retained his Sherman Cup cross-country title with a confidence-boosting victory at Temple Park, South Shields.
On a blustery day the Morpeth athlete was content to track Shildon’s Scottish international Cameron Boyek in the early stages around 10 metres behind as the 400-plus field began to stretch out around the twomile circuit.
However, at the start of the final lap of three it was Avery’s turn to take the lead and while it wasn’t immediately decisive, a gap between the pair gradually began to appear.
As the athletes went out of sight Avery’s advantage began to widen as the battle for the minor places was hotting up behind.
A group of five continued to give chase though and with less than two miles to go the gap to the leaders was nearly a minute.
When the athletes came back into view Avery was way out on his own and it was Jarrow and Hebburn’s Andy Burn who was now in second place followed by Dan Jenkin (Durham City), Alex Brown (Houghton), Conrad Franks (Gateshead) and Finn Brodie of Tyne Bridge.
When Boyek eventually came into view it was noticeable he was struggling with an injury. However, in what was his first cross-country race since lifting the North East Counties under-20 title over the same course in 2013, he struggled home to cross the line in 11th place.
At the finish Avery had over a minute in hand as Burn claimed the runners-up spot 12 seconds ahead of Jenkin.
Fast-finishing Franks eased ahead of Brown in the finishing straight with Brodie completing the top six.
The women’s race attracted a record field of 350 for the Davison Shield with victory going to Newcastle University’s Amelia Pettitt.
The Cheshire-based Vale Royal athlete showed a huge improvement from last year where she finished outside of the medals in fourth place.
At the midway stage, Morpeth’s Jane Hodgson led with Pettitt in second place followed by Steph Pattinson (Jarrow and Hebburn), Chloe Price (Birtley) and fellow Morpeth pair Gemma Floyd and Josie Cram.
However, with just over a mile to go, Pettitt moved to the front for the first time and immediately eased away to come home 28 seconds clear of Hodgson.
Price managed to overtake Pattinson with the finish line in sight to complete the podium places.
Prior to the women’s race lining up there was a minute’s applause by the athletes and officials for Margaret Watson, a tireless race official for many years who recently died.