Victorious Brannon in League of his own
JUNIOR ATHLETICS
DESPITE clashing with the English Schools’ Cross-Country Championships and it being a bitterly cold day, nearly 250 youngsters lined up to contest the final Start Fitness North East Harrier League fixture of the season at Alnwick Pastures.
Conditions underfoot were surprisingly ideal after heavy rainfall in the days prior to the meeting, which led to some exciting competition.
As usual, the under-11 events opened the day’s proceedings and, as he has done all winter, the boys’ contest was won by North Shields Poly’s Zak Brannon.
Chasing him home over the 1.2k course were Gateshead duo William Wells and Sony Lewins, who finished second and third respectively.
In the under-11 girls’ contest over the same distance victory went to Chester-le-Street’s Ella Jones, who crossed the line four seconds clear of Hannah Wightman (Gosforth) with Elswick’s Lucy Milburn completing the medalists.
In the under-13 boys’ race over 3.5k Blackhill’s Leo White and Dillon Revell (Sunderland) defied a one min-40sec handicap to finish first and second - White prevailing by 10 seconds.
Alnwick’s Gregor Batley was just overhauled in the closing stages but managed to hang on to third place at the line.
Charlotte Dillon (Durham City) and Holly Waugh (North Shields Poly) also worked through the field to finish first and second respectively in the under-13 girls’ race which also graced the 3.5km course.
Elswick’s Lauren Stroud, who led for most of the way only to be caught in the closing stages, completed the Athletics writer one-two-three. The leading five runners home in the under-15 boys’ race all made good use of their 1:40 start with Gosforth’s Joseph Anderson claiming victory ahead of Alnwick’s Barnabas Harvey and Morpeth’s Dylan Gooding.
Fastest on the course was Durham City’s Thomas Wraith, who worked his way through the field to finish in sixth position.
It was a similar result in the under-15 girls’ 3.5k race with the first five also making good use of a 1:40 start.
Houghton’s Lara Greggs was first home - winning by 31 seconds with Gosforth’s Carys Purves ending up runner-up ahead of Elswick’s Charley Lee.
Durham City’s Jack Prowse won the under-17 men’s race, holding Leo White off the challenge of team-mate Ben Horsfield who recorded the fastest time in taking second place.
Blaydon’s Luke Shears completed the medal winners.
Newcastle University students Shona Haston and Aoife Smith filled the first two places in the combined under-17/20 women’s race.
Haston was the fastest on the course after giving away a minute start to her main rival. Gateshead’s Jasmine Crang finished in third place.