Hercules Wimbledon round-up: Mixed bag at Surrey Cross County League fixture

It was a day of mixed fortunes for the Hercules distance squad at Beckenham Park on Saturday in the Surrey Cross Country League with the women moving clear of relegation, while the men left themselves with work to do to defend their title in February’s final race.

Hercules women finished ninth on the day, led home by Matilde Lomba in 36th, writes George Mallett.

Not far behind was Gina Galbraith in 38th, with Poppy Robson and Eloise Davies in 48th and 59th respectively.

It marks a major improvement from their 18th and 12th places in the previous fixtures and draws them away from the division’s bottom three clubs, Epsom & Ewell, Fulham and London City Runners.

A depleted men’s side finished a valiant third on the day to Kent AC, with a notable number of athletes stepping up to score for the first time this season. Due to Guildford & Godalming’s second place finish, Hercules are 23 points adrift heading into the final fixture.

The men were led home by reliable club cross-country captain Fred Slemeck who finished in ninth, just over a minute behind race winner Jack Millar of Thames Hare & Hounds. Slemeck was followed home by Archie Walton (12th) with Rhys Boorman (17th) running a new Surrey League best.

Club stalwart Finn Johnson finished 28th with Sam Todd scoring for the first time this season in 32nd.

Richard McDowell was 33rd with Oli Carrington rounding out the top 40.

Jamie Bannister came 51st with Simon Wade (85th) and Hector Revill (86th) rounding out the scoring 10.

The club’s sprinters raced at the South London Athletics Network Indoor Open in Carshalton recently.

Antonio Douglas was the fastest Hercules athlete over 60m in the heats, finishing in 6.97 to take second and narrowly nudge Freddie Arkell (6.99) into third.

Arkell ran 6.96 to finish fourth in that day’s final as Douglas finished fifth in 7.10s.

Devonte Casely-Hayford set a new PB of 7.19 in heat three before lowering that to 7.11 in his second race a few hours later. Marcus Gayle clocked 7.28 in his heat before a new indoor PB of 7.16 to win his final.

Hannah Bell ran 7.92 in her heat, finishing fourth, and was third in her final in a new PB of 7.84.

Kyra Stone set a new best in the heats (8.03) before dipping under the eight-second barrier for the first time to win her final in 7.99.

Cora Barnett ran 8.14 in her heat and then 8.05 in her final to finish second.

Mabel Rose-Scales set a new high jump best of 1.65m to come third in her event.