Newham and Essex Beagles extended their successful winter with a win at the National Cross Country Relays.
The margin of the victory was not as comfortable as it had been at the National Six Stage Road Relays but without Mo Farah, Mike East, Dave Mitchinson and Tom Bilham the team were still ahead of their rivals.
Steve Vernon ran the fastest leg of the day to lead home the first stage with 14min 42sec for the 5K two lap course. However Newham were already to the fore with Moumin Geele before Steve Hepples and Keith Gerrard combined to hand on to Mark Warmby. Warmby, Britain’s second finisher at the World Cross 4K this year hit the front and led Newham to gold with a 14min 45sec stage ahead of AFDs Andy Vernon who lifted his team into silver medal position. Also on the fastest leg results was Mike Skinner with a 14min 46sec.
In the women’s race Hayley Yelling ran two stages for Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow AC, clocking the fastest time of the day with 9min 46sec on stage one before taking on third leg duties with 10min 12sec. Her team, with Sophie Morris clocking 10min 14sec on second leg, crossed the line first but was disqualified as Yelling had run two legs. Yelling had done so as Rosemary Ryan had been forced to pull out injured and she and Morris both wanted to run and see their team finish.
Although finishing second Charnwood AC took gold medals with Tara Krzywicki (9min 55sec), Sarah Maude (10min 18sec) and Hannah Whitmore (10min 07sec). Chester le Street AC took silvers and Bedford bronze with Liz Yelling clocking 9min 48sec despite still suffering from a shoulder problem.
In the junior women’s race Steph Twell of AFD clocked a new stage record of 7min 59sec to take 15sec off the time set by Nicola Sykes last year. Her run put AFD into a winning lead with Birmingham University taking the silver medals (25min 18sec to 25min 35sec) and Royal Sutton Coldfield third in 26min 13sec.
