Harriers steel themselves for Sheffield relay championships
Sunderland Harriers travel to Sheffield on Saturday for the Northern Athletics FourStage Cross-Country Relay Championships.
They join Morpeth Harriers’ as the only two clubs from the North East to contest the senior race over two mile legs at Graves Park.
Team manager Jimmy Johnson said: “We have a good team finally assembled after a few withdrawals due to holidays and illness.
“I am sure they will give a good account of themselves and achieve a performance that will serve them well.’’
Scott Armstrong, Craig Gunn, Steve Rankin and Nathan Reed make up his team.
Armstrong competes for Sunderland for the second time following his transfer from Durham.
It was in 2013 that Sunderland achieved their best performance in finishing fifth. The team that day were Kevin Calverton10.07,MarkHoodon 10.19,CraigIsherwoodon10.50 and Nathan Reed on 11.00.
Gunn is in fine form after finishing runner-up in the North Tyneside 10k on Sunday. He clocked a personal best of 32.16 behind winner David Green of North Shields Poly (31.42). In third place was HeatonHarrierJamesMcKenzie (33.02). Sunderland Harrier over-40 Sam Thurlbeck was 19th, also with a PB of 35.23.
The women’s race was won by Jacqueline Penn, of North Shields, with 38.18.
Washington’s Running Club’s Daniel Curwen finished 64th (39.08) and Houghton Harrierover-60DavidGribben clocked 41.06 in 90th position.
Sunderland Stroller over-60 Dawn Elliott was first in her age group with 49.09.
Therewasafieldof1,311that finished the course, with the last runner recording 1.39.42.
Former Sunderland Harrier Kevin Jeffress is back on the racing scene and training everydayafteraprematureretirement in 2019.
He is a former North EasternCountiesrepresentativeon the country and a prolific winner of over-35 veteran crosscountry titles.
Now aged 42, he competed inlastweek’sRedcarHalf-Marathon and finished eighth in a time of 1.22.58
Hesaid:“Iamrunningevery day, more for fitness, still getting 70-80 miles a week in, but I tend to be more off road with my dog.
“Recently I’ve been throwingtheoddsteadytempoinand a few striders here and there.
“Redcarwasmyfirstracein exactly two years to the day, so will see if the thirst for racing surfaces is there.’’
Sunderland Harriers’ cross-country grand prix is up and running with five prizes awarded to the winners at the end of the season. The prizes are £150 for first, £125 for second, £100 for third, £50 for fourth and £25 for fifth.
The grand prix is open to all Sunderland Harriers men and women. If you just turn up to race,youearnthreepointsand if you are a team counter, extra points are awarded depending on the status of the race. Points are awarded for performances over the cross-country season.
Harrier League plus Sherman Cup and Davison Shield earn three points, North East Championships 6 points, Northern Championships 8 points, National Championships 10 points.
The leaders are Jessica Fox on eight points 8, Linda Mudford 8, Colleen Compson 8, Liam Taylor 8, Michael Barker 8, Dave Lash 8, Chris Bell 7, Alyson West 6, Catherine Purdy 6, Doreen Dickinson 6, Michael Edwards 6, Allan McManus 6, Dale Wilkinson 6, Carl Robinson 6, Paul Redman 6, Cameron Lawton 6.