Double delight for Johnson as he looks to stake selection claim
Calum Johnson won his second major cross country title when he triumphed in the Inter Counties Championships at Loughborough on Saturday.
This follows his victory in the National Championships at Wollaton Park in 2020.
The Gateshead Harrier is hoping to qualify for a major games slot in the marathon, either at the Commonwealth or European Championships.
He intends to compete in the Wrexham Marathon on Sunday, April 24, to gain the qualifying time and press his claims for selection.
Johnson was representing the North East at Loughborough where teams in all age groups are selected for the championships. The team won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Houghton Harriers and Sunderland Harriers were appeared among the medals.
Sunderland Harriers’ Stephen Jackson had a goodfinish third North East team counter in 64th behind Johnson. 42-year-old Jarlath McKenna was 24th, Phil Wylie 69 th, Conrad F ranks 81 st and Gregory Jayasuriya 82nd, to finish fifth county team
Shildon’s Kate Avery was third in the in the women’ s race behind Scotland’s Mhairi MacLennan.
The Under-17s men won team bronze medals with Houghton Harrier Brandon P ye just missing out on an individual bronze by four seconds in a tight run race, finishing fourth. Sunderland Harrier Adam Hughes took 52nd to be the final scorer. The other team counters were Joshua Blevins in 12th and William De Vere Owen 46th.
Houghton Harrier Anna Pigford finished 19th in the Under-20s race and she was followed by Emily Chong in 26th, Tess Graham 38th and Lydia James 54th. The team finished fourth. Amy Leonard was a non-counter in 87th.
The Under-13s Boys were second with Dawit Asmelash sixth, Charilie Jones 11 th Noah Williamson 23 rd, and Jamie Lonergan 48th.
Houghton Harriers Chris Coulson in 31st and Will Bellamy 46th led the Under-20s team to seventh position. The other two counters were Peter Small com be 57 th, and Duncan Hughes 65 th. Sunderland Harrier Alexander Seed was 137 th.
Houghton Harrier Cameron Allan finished a superb 11th in the Universities World Cross Country Championships at Aveiro, Portugal. The measure of the competition can be shown by Allan’ s performance. He was the first GB runner and fifth European to finish and the highest placed British male runner since 2010.
In the Birtley Young Athletes Relays, Sunderland Harriers’ Boys team finished third (32.21). The team was Dillon Rev el (10.33) Seb Walton (10.30) and Cameron Lawton (11.18).
Birtley won (30.39) from North Shields (31.54). Theasset by Bi rt ley’ sChr is Perkins (9.18).
Sunderland’ s Under 11 s finished sixth withKie ran Archer (5.35), Oliver Anderson (5.38), and Charlie Hill (05.50).
The Under-13s were fourth with Sam Thompson (05.39), Ben Anderson (05.41) and Josh Ebblewhite (05.40).
Richmond & Zetland Harriers’ Rob Scot won the Thirsk 10- mile road race in 52.05. Sunderland Harrier Dave Lash finished 90 thin 63.50 and club mate Aid an Crow was 296 thin 1 hour 17min.
The first North Eastern Cross Country Relay Championships will be held at Thornley Hall Farm on Saturday over four legs of 5km. Start times: 12noon Masters Women/Senior Women. 1.10pm Masters Men/Senior Men.