National Cross Country Relays 6th November

Cloudy skies greeted our ten teams at a windswept Berry Hill Park on a day everyone was so looking forward too; the return of the mighty popular English Cross Country Relays.The course too was kind to us being fairly dry throughout. One can best describe this being an undulating course throughout.

U20 Women

For the first time for many years we actually had a team which in all honesty was wonderful to see. Each leg consisted of 2.5k but as with all the races the first leg was slightly shorter, around 60/70 metres less. Starting the ball rolling was Jessica Adams, who a week ago was selected for Essex for the very first time, got out well and finished in 23rd place in 9 mins 46 secs. Jess was happy with her effort handing over to Ellen Savidge. For Ellen this was her first race for some time and we must be hugely grateful for herself and her parents bringing her all the way to Mansfield to complete the team. Ellen ran 11 mins 20 for the 2.5 k stint a good effort as Ellen tries to fit her training around school and working. Lily Yates in her first cross country race for WGEL must be thanked as she was unwell but not going to let her team mates down.In the circumstances Lily ran brilliantly to climb 7 places clocking 10 mins 20 for her stint leaving WGEL in 21st place which was in the top half of this National field. This was in my eyes a brave and excellent result for our ladies.

Under 17 Women

These started around 15 minutes after the U20 race so in effect you had two races going on at once which was the theme throughout the day. Kezia Beeton took on stage one and Kezia, like Jess, gained County selection the weekend before. Kezia ran a “blinder” to place 10th in 9 mins 15 a superb effort from a large starting field and was only thirty seconds down on Ruby Vinton from SBH an England Schools international. Emma Lord who transferred over to us in the spring took on a huge challenge after the shock of being so far up the field but received a vocal message from John Stow to “run her own race”. Obviously Emma would lose places but she never gave up running 11 mins 38 placing 46th. Miya Maeda stepped up the plate with little notice to ensure the girls had a team. Miya proved after being out for a while she is on her way back by climbing four places for 42nd covering her 2.5 k in 10 mins 42. Well done you three ladies WGEL are so proud of you.

Under 13 girls

The girls legs were just 2k but still a tough test for our youngsters. The managers took a gamble and went for broke early on knowing we had such a gutsy runner on the last leg with Faye Owers.

On leg one Jasmine Hall took to the start line, another athlete who won Essex selection the week before. It was a big field with lots of pushing etc at the start. Poor Jasmine was the victim of this and found herself towards the back in the early stages. Jasmine then got into gear passing runner after runner coming in 33rd in 8 mins 09. So the stage was set for 800 metre specialist Natasha Wynn who ranked 6th in the UK for U13 girls last summer as to how many runners could she take. Eyebrows were raised as Natasha towards the final hill was up to 11th for having taken 22 runners in a fine 7 mins 41 which was the 3rd fastest overall on her leg. This was a great result as her time was only 12 seconds slower than Molly Carvell from Liverpool did in the last leg. Molly is top U13 girl over 1500 last summer. Faye Owers on the last stage was more than up to the challenge ahead. Faye so young and yet so gutsy and tenacious went out to give everything she could to hang on to what we had. Faye was magnificent and only.conceded five places coming in 16th in 8 mins 40 Another fine display from our girls.

U13 boys

In this age group we were without Rudy Parker Bayes who plays football to a very high level although will always race for WGEL when he can. Harry Stockill started out on leg one and yet another to gain Essex selection last weekend had his best race in the country to date.This young man who broke Daniel Rowden's 800m school record last summer hung on to his forward position in great style to place 19th in 7 mins 20 not that far behind the leaders. On the second leg Daniel Arnold a bottom year U13 and was another to rise to the occasion with a splendid run of 7 mins 48 to take the Woodies up to 17th. On the last leg Zac Everitt gave up playing footy in order to support his team mates and his wonderful dad and coach Joe. Zac gave everything as he always does to bring WGEL in 38th. Yet another top of the field placing. These boys deserve praise like their girl counterparts had never raced at Mansfield before.

Under 17 men

This race was over three legs of 3k but we had lost runners through injury etc but nevertheless we fielded a team.

To say that the first leg was overloaded with Internationals etc is an under statement. Jimmy Geller was not daunted by this and was up for”mixing it with the best”. Jimmy kept in touch with the leading bunch throughout eventually placing 12th just over 20 seconds down on SBH Schools International Henry Dover. Jimmy who is hoping to be under 4 minutes for 1500 next year was only just beaten by Ethan Primitt who had a two weeks ago beaten Jimmy by a much greater margin in the first Met League. This was a great run by a bottom year U17. Alfie Ward took on the next leg. Alfie has only been in the sport a few months was not put off in the slightest by being that far up the field Again receiving vocal instructions to run his own race. Alfie kept his place for a good bit on his leg. Knowing this lad is going to be a 400/800 specialist he did well to come in 24th in 10 mins 26. Reuben Fabian is such a great club lad always willing to run even if he feels he is not in his best form. Like his team mates Reuben is only bottom year too. He did well to consolidate our team to 36th yet another top of the field placing.

U15 girls

Two years ago this team missed the gold medal by just ten seconds as U13s but so much has happened as we all know due to COVID. Tilly Major started out for us and in the early stages gave everything to stay in touch with the leaders but she was chasing Shakira King who has broken 4 mins 30 for 1500 last summer. Tilly tried so hard to hang on but to no avail as she came in 36th. Tilly will bounce back that’s for sure as this is her nature and we must remember she has let no one down whatsoever. Next up was Emily Caton who was selected to run for Essex a week ago and it would be interesting to see what ground she could make up. WGEL fans were overjoyed as Emily swept up to 14th gaining 22 places only losing one place in return to ESAA 800 metre champion Phoebe Gill. Emily’s time was outstanding, nearly a minute quicker than two years ago and she was 8th fastest overall on leg two. Schools International Abigail Reid took on the last leg and really went for it. She overtook eight runners coming out of the woods in 6th spot but her brave efforts early on meant she fall back to ninth place at the end. This was a fine showing from our girls and the coaches were really happy about the way the all had a go and attacked the course. Well done all.

U15 boys

They ran the same distance as the U15 girls and their big improvement on times from two years ago just proves what a great job their immediate coach Alistair Fabian is doing.

Nate Harding started out on leg one and just missed out on Essex selection last week this did not knock his confidence one bit. Nate placed 37th on leg one his time of 7 mins 02 was just over a minute quicker than in 2019 a colossal improvement. Oscar Farthing- Barbero ran leg two and has been suffering from back problems recently which kept him out of the Essex trials the weekend before. Oscar moved up three places with 7 mins 19 some 40 seconds quicker than before. Bottom year Gregor Samson took the last leg and again ran well to bring us in 38th in 7 mins 52 another top half of the National field placing.

U20 Men

Thomas Adolphus and Videsh Weekakkody have been superb members all through the age groups with WGEL and both made the effort to team up even knowing they did not have a complete team and this must be commended for sure.

Tom ran the first leg for us over 3k and ran a highly encouraging 9 mins 25 to bring us in 30th place which was well up in yet another large field. Tom had shown his paces earlier with 42nd in the first Met League so he in good shape right now. Poor Videsh was victim of not been sent away at the right time so was sent of virtually last but we believe he too broke 10 minutes which is good for Videsh. I can’t praise the lads enough for their efforts despite no full team.

So yet again WGEL had a good day with three teams in the top 22 and the others not far from that. The parents must be thanked for bringing the athletes all the way to Mansfield to race the best in the country. Coaches Richard Thurston, Joe Everitt plus Alistair Fabian must equally be thanked for all their efforts on the day supporting their athletes. Now back to holding on to our lead in the Met League next Saturday.

Congratulations to all concerned.