STRATFORD-upon-Avon Athletic Club’s junior runners enjoyed a successful outing in the second West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League meeting of the season at Newbold Revel near Rugby.
And the club’s under-17 women’s team were first off in Warwickshire in fine conditions on a very tight course with plenty of leaves underfoot.
Niamh Hillard was first across the line for Stratford and continued her fine form to finish eighth in a time of 15 minutes 50 seconds.
She was followed by Maisie-Joy Spriggs (12th, 16 mins 28 secs) and Olivia Robinson (13th, 16 mins 28 secs).
Just outside of the top-20 were Abbi Cooper (21st, 17 mins 27 secs) and Lucy Thomas (22nd, 17 mins 54 secs) with Emily Cottam further back (33rd, 19 mins 17 secs).
And Abi Skinner (43rd, 20 mins 30 secs) and Tilly Campbell (44th, 20 mins 49 secs) completed the complement of Stratford runners to leave them one point behind the league leaders.
In the under-17 men’s race, Stratford’s Alex Adams showed his class to claim overall victory in 16 mins 41 secs and was followed by Milo Cullimore (25th, 18:54) and Jaicob Ford (26th, 18:58).
The under-13 boys’ team produced an outstanding performance to top their league table with five finishers in the top-12 as Will Hovell lead the squad home in third place in 9 mins 46 secs.
He was pushed all the way by Aran Cooper (4th, 09:49) with Joel Ledgard (5th, 09:49) just three seconds behind, Sam Plumb (7th, 09:55) and Kipp Stevens (12th, 10:11).
They were followed by Alfie Musk (28th, 10:51), Arthur Mansbridge (31st, 10:55), Morgan Nabney (33rd, 10:57), Toby Spriggs (66th, 12:01), Jamie Dewhurst (76th, 12:55 on debut).
And Stratford’s under-13 girls also impressed to move up to second in their league as Marijke Tear-Verweij finished second after a superb run in 10 mins 39 secs.
She was followed by Lois Ford (11th, 11:12), Ava Sheppard (21st, 11:39), Portia Nabney (25th, 11:51), Amelia Peeke (31st, 11:55), Rachel Sparrow (54th, 12:47) and Georgia Sharpe (79th, 13:40).
Zak Lambert was first home for the under-15 boys team in seventh place in 10 mins 8 secs followed by William Mayes (14th, 10:19), Sam Lambert (15th, 10:23), Thomas Fisher (23rd, 10:42) and James Day (25th, 10:52).
Completing the lineup were Charlie Clayton (45th, 11:22), James Mayes (49th, 11:27), Luca De Freitas Pires (59th, 11:47), Josh Harrison (65th, 12:04) and Ewan Sparrow (86th, 14:21).
The under-15 girls’ moved up to fifth in the league table as Annie Silvers (20th, 12:29) led the team home followed by Tessa Parkin (35th, 13:03), Bo Algate (38th, 13:18), Martha Peters (50th, 13:54), Hannah Wilkinson (64th, 14.35), Charlotte Skinner (67th, 14:45), Bayleigh Stubbins (72nd, 15:16) and Brooke Rossney (73rd, 15:18).
And the under-11 boys were also in action as Eli Ford (35th, 06:49), Toby Ledgard (37th, 06:49), Arthur Chadburn (70th, 07:16), Callum Linforth (79th, 07:27), Henry Thomas (106th, 08:21) and Tyler Li (107th, 08:35) all completed the race.
Lastly, the under-11 girls team saw Amelie Marshall (17th, 06:56), Jasmine Mothershaw (18th, 06:56), Maggie Silvers (27th, 7:03), Martha Edwards (44th, 07:18), Emily Lambert (48th, 07:20), Evangeline Harris (80th, 07:53) and Ruby Whyman Bean (109th, 09:00 on debut) all complete the race.
Stratford now sit third in the 21-team league after two races, behind Wolverhampton and Bilston and Rugby and Northampton AC.
