City athletes end league season with medal glory
Stanmer Park, Brighton, hosted the final fixture of the Sussex Cross Country League season with perfect conditions greeting hundreds of runners of all ages – with team and individual medals to be decided.
Chichester’s under-15 girls came away with the club’s best haul. After early season wins, Molly Smithers knew she had to finish no lower than third at Brighton to ensure beating Rihanon Daniels of Crawley.
A runners-up spot was enough to secure gold as she led Chichester to team bronze with another good run from Carrie Anelay in 13th and 27th from Grace Haworth.
The Chichester club was given a great start to the day with Emmy Pemberton in second place in the U11 race, secure bronze for the season.
In the same age group, Levi Pearce abd Alfie Luxford had good runs to end 9th and 15th respectively in the boys’ race.
Elodie Hill kept up her consistent season with ninth place in the under-13 girls’ race while Max Gayle finished 18th and Freddie Gay 27th in the boys’ U13 event.
Another who has shown great form is Ben Ward who was sixth in the U15 age group, while Digby Fulford finished 30th after a good run at the Chichester 10k a week earlier.
In Chichester’s senior women’s A team under-17 Anya Barrett led the way in 22nd place – sixth in her age group. Veteran Fay Cripps was 25th overall, fifth over-45 across the line. As UK No1 in her over-65 age group in a variety of distances, it was not surprise to see Helen Dean next home in 51st, maintaining her unbeaten record in her group to win gold.
Five places later was Nadia Anderson, third over-55 to finish, completing the A team scoring with 153 points.
The B team comprised Kim Nelson in 67th, Charlotte Bullard 70th, Amanda Godfrey 78th and Wendy Whelan, 95th and third in the over-65s and on her own as one of the country’s top over 75’s.
The club’s senior men had two teams, with another good run from Conrad Meagher in 17th followed by Callum Lorimer in 43rd (7th under-20) just ahead of Mikeey Kwoka in 45th.
Last scorer for the A team was Jim Garland in 64th, fifth in the over-50s, giving the team a commendable third place in Division 2.
The B team comprised Steve Davy in 76th, Wim Amir 114th, Tom Blaylock 117th and Peter Anderson 118th, capping a fine day for the club.