Herne Hill Harriers underline cross country prowess at English Championships

Herne Hill Harriers continued to establish their reputation as one of the strongest cross country clubs nationally when measured across all age groups with another successful outing at the English Cross Country Relay Championships in Mansfield, writes Geoff Jerwood.

The South London club contested eight of the 10 races, often fielding A and B teams, and claimed bronze medals in the U13 boys race and two top-10 finishes.

The U13 boys worked through the field. Edward Cunniffe was 11th after the first leg and then Zacchaeus Kelman edged the team into ninth going into the final stage of the three legs. Caspian Holmes flew past half a dozen runners to move into the bronze medal position shortly before the finish line in a rapid time of 6:56 around the 2km undulating circuit.

The B team came 24th of 72 teams. Lucas Heath was ninth, followed by Herbert Clark (19th) and Will Perry (24th).

The women’s team produced a brilliant performance for fifth place. This was the highest senior team position achieved by the club to date at this event.

Saskia Millard got the A team off to a strong start handing over at the end of her 3km stint in fourth place, only a few metres behind the early race leaders. Sarah Grover was unfazed on leg two despite strong challenges posed by some quality runners chasing through the field and held the team in 10th. Alexandra Brown secured a superb fifth place, only a few seconds behind the fourth team.

The women’s B team of Julia Wedmore (58th), Jenny Nandi (48th) and Kaitlin Hewitt finished 41st out of the 139 teams.

Millard and Brown are now racing well as senior athletes – 10 years since they were winning medals in Herne Hill’s U13 girls team at this event.

The U15 boys – Warren Wilson (15th), Fred Hake (10th) and Alexander Wilson – finished eighth. The B team – Jon Goldston (35th), Archy Atkinson (28th) and Jack McLennan – were 25th of 95 teams.

The U15 girls also made the top 20. Orla Carroll (26th), Sophie Jack (15th) and Orla Wright came home in 20th of 74 teams. The B team were 26th. Lily Kitto was 42nd, then Lily-Rose Brown (31st) and Lucy Wright (26th).

The U13 girls of Florence Mills (15th), Sophie Wright (24th) and Sofia Mendes were 23rd. The B team of Jasmine Nkoso (60th), Summer MacKay (47th) and Eden Watson were 61st of 75 teams.

There were three complete Herne Hill U17 men’s teams. The A team of Mori Alimi (34th), Alex Jack (29th) and Keeran Sriskandarajah finished 22nd.

The B team were Josh Lee Baum (46th), Robin Bebbington (32nd) and Fabien Whitelock (27th). The C team comprised Oluwafikayomi Awolope (73rd), Sam Maloney (62nd) and Diego Lister (59th). The U17 women placed 25th of 60 teams – Eva O’Hanlon (24th), Grace O’Hanlon (25th) and Rosalie Laban 25th.

In such high quality fields the men’s team found it tough to make an impact, ending up 60th in a huge field of 198 teams.

Mike Cummings was 78th on the always exceptionally strong opening leg. Daniel Shaw moved to 70th followed by Simon Coombes (63rd). Oliver Walker maintained the steady progress into the top 60.

Harriers also demonstrated their growing depth in numbers through the senior and masters ranks on the same day to place 11th and 30th women’s teams at the Reigate Priory Cross Country relays.

They also fielded a men’s team of four and a mixed team of two men and two women. Herne Hill’s fastest female at this race was W40 Suzanne Swaine, 11th overall. Terry Sweet recorded the best male time among those in the red-and-black vests in his first-ever cross country race.

Main Picture: Saskia Millard forces the pace at the head of the lead pack on senior women’s first leg