Under-17 girls triumph in Midlands Cross Country
BURTON Athletic Club’s strong Under-17 girls team are the Midlands Cross Country Relay champions after a convincing performance at Wolverhampton.
Maisie Trueman took the first leg, setting off steadily before making her move at the 1k mark, opening up a big lead and finishing 15 seconds ahead in 11 minutes 20 seconds over the 3k lap.
Saffron Bowley, new to the team this year, slowly increased the lead on the second leg.
She had a tricky moment, nearly losing her footing on a steep downhill section but her finish, in 11.47, was the fastest second leg time.
Paige Barker set off well and ran a controlled race, maintaining the big lead, and her 11.59 leg was also the fastest on lap three as the team finished 52 seconds ahead of Tipton.
It was a gold medal at the third attempt for Trueman and Barker, completing a full set of Midlands relay medals for them, while Trueman also took the fastest leg medal.
Burton also had a B team in which Cara Mccarney coming fifth in 12.15, was 10th fastest overall. Megan Smith ran 13.09 and Amelie Brown 13.39 as the B team came sixth overall.
The under-13 boys looked like they might bring home medals, too, when Ewan Withnall stormed away in the lead and finished the lap ahead in 10.41.
Aleksander Tutt set off well but lost the lead to Cheltenham and then was just overtaken at the end of the lap to finish third in 11.48.
Lewis Boyce set off fast but was reeled in over the last kilometre and as he finished in 11.32 he was eight seconds away from the bronze medal.
The under-13 B team came ninth thanks to Calum Mccarney (13.41) Max Bates (14.55) and Daniel Kolodziej (12.34).
The under-15 boys came ninth. Jonah Hearn’s leg saw him 13th with 12.29 but Kamil Kolodziej turned in an excellent 10.40 to move them up to 11th. Sammy Mccafferty added 11.32 to gain two more places.
Caitlin Mccarney was the only under-15 girl available for Burton and came second on the opening leg, her 11.40 being the joint fourthfastest time.
AT the Staffordshire Schools cross country selection race in Stafford, the following Burton AC runners
gained selection: Calum Mccarney (4th, year seven boys); Isabel Harmon (8th, junior girls); Jessica Golder (9th, year seven girls); Sammy Mccafferty (7th, junior
boys).
They will now be in an Inter-area race at Himley Hill, Dudley on November 19, gaining their first Staffordshire vests.