Debutants help Harriers to 18th place finishintheNorthernRoadRelayevent
The Northern 12 Stage Road Relay Championships took place in Wythenshawe
Park, Manchester and Sunderland Harriers’ men’s team competed against some of the finest clubs from the North of England to finish in eighteenth place,
The race was over 12 legs, with long legs of approximately five miles and short legs of 2.8 miles.
On the first leg, Sunderland Harrier Stephen Jackson was given the task of putting the club into a good position.
First legs are notoriously quick, but given the nature of the course and the wind, this was soon put to bed.
Jackson came back in thirteenth with a time of 24.34.
The first three runners home were Tommy Power (Hallamshire) 23.31, Olympic triple medallist Jonathan Brownlee (Bingley) 23.36, and Finn Brodie (Morpeth) 23.40.
Next up for the Harriers on leg two was England international Michael Wilson, who ran a good time of 13.47 on the short leg. This hauled the team up into seventh place.
The third leg fell on the young shoulders of
Alex Seed, who did not disappoint with a time of 26.33, bringing the team home in thirteenth.
The loss of six places did not reflect on the run, but undoubtedly leg three in terms of quality of opposition was probably the toughest leg to race.
On leg four, Scott Armstrong ran a good solid leg of 13.50, the fourth quickest on the leg, to lift the team up into eleventh place.
Jake Ridding was next to toe the line on leg five. Ridding, at the tail end of marathon training, produced another solid run (25.10) to propel the team up into ninth.
Steve Rankin (leg six), fresh from his personal best exploits at Leicester last week, continued his great form as he maintained ninth position with a time of 14.07, the fourth quickest on the leg.
On leg seven was Jordan Taylor, who was the first of three members making their club debut.
Taylor, who is currently training for Blackpool marathon, was certainly pleased with his time of 27.49 bringing the team back into eleventh position.
With all the long legs now completed, it was down to the last five runners on the remaining five short legs.
Up next was another debutante, Jordan Scott, who recently joined from Morpeth Harriers.
Having his first race since last September, Scott ran a solid leg of 14.55 to move the team into tenth position.
A 2003 team silver medal winner at these championships was up next on leg nine.