Hercules Wimbledon AC round-up: Hat-trick of wins at final Downs League meeting of the season

Hercules Wimbledon Athletic Club’s young cross country runners concluded their Downs League programme with a fine hat-trick of wins, writes Tom Pollak.

They narrowly failed to make it four out of four team wins for the season as they took runners-up spot in their fourth event.

In the final match of the season on Epsom Downs, Hercules’ young guns won two races.

Leading the way was Theo Creed, who won the U11 boys’ 2.2km race in 8:25, finishing 20 seconds ahead of club-mate Max Harrison. It also meant he clinched the U11 individual title for the season Cyrus Sheikh (fourth in 8:33) and Thomas Hennigan (eighth in 9:09) contributed.

In comfortably winning the final match, the youngsters leapfrogged from third to first place to take the league title with 184 points, pipping rivals Herne Hill on the same points, with South London Harriers third on 234.

Their U11 girls team also triumphed with Poppy Guest, second in 9:15, leading the team to victory both on the day and for the season. Blanka Domsodi (sixth in 9:42), Freia Harper-Tee (ninth in 9:59) and Tara Oliver (14th in 10:43) completed the side.

Final under 11 girls standings: 1 Hercules Wimbledon 136; 2 South London Harriers 226; 3 Herne Hill 234.

Hercules’ girls also won the U13 team title. Isabella Harrison was their leading finisher, seven seconds behind the winner in 12:30. Iona Alexander was fourth 15 seconds later with Mae Losson (sixth in 12:52) and Martha Eminson (13th in 13:55) completing the team.

Despite comfortably winning the final boys’ U13 match, Hercules narrowly failed to take the team title for the season. But they did provide the season’s individual winner in Harry Allen, who won the final race in a thrilling finish (11:31).

In his three previous races Allen was third and sixth twice. With Zach Elliott (seventh in 11:57), Max Williams (eighth in 12:01) and George Macklin (10th in 12:11),

Hercules won with 26 points ahead of South London Harriers (42) and Epsom & Ewell (52).

The club travel to Sutton Park, Birmingham, for the English National 12-stage road relay championship this weekend aiming to finish in the top dozen to improve on the 13th place the club managed in 2018.

Team manager Keith Scofield is hopeful all of the successful team from the South of England stage will be available.

Tom Cheetham, who is aiming to complete his 100th marathon in 2022, was the second over-55 veteran finisher in the Runthrough Battersea Park Chase the Moon 10km road race in 41:42, his fastest time of the year.