Stevenson and Twell take XC spoils
Ricky Stevenson
In the opening ‘big’ cross country event of the 2009 /10 season the Gateshead International XC races took place on Saturday (14) at a blustery Riverside Bowl. As with the corresponding meet some 12 months previous GB international Steph Twell came out on top…
Ricky Stevenson had a very satisfying day after racing both the 2 and 9km events, with a win and fourth place respectively.
Over a tough 8km women’s event European junior champ Twell fended off some top domestic competition in her first race as a ‘Scot’, following her move to represent the nation. Her closest challenger was fellow GB athlete Helen Clitheroe, who could only manage to get within 22 seconds of the Aldershot athlete. Sonia Samuels was third. Speaking afterwards Twell said, “It was a nice surprise to see I am in such good shape and I was also really proud to put on a Scottish vest for the first time.”
Twell - back in the XC groove
In the short 2km men’s international dash local-lad Stevenson celebrated his 21st birthday by triumphing in just under six minutes, ahead of Eritrean Tsegai Tewelde. Stevenson and Tewelde later went on to finish 4th and 2nd (again!) in the men’s 9km event.
In that race Mike Skinner beat the unlucky Eritrean Tewelde by 4 seconds. Scott Overall was third some 34 seconds back, with Stevenson rounding off a very satisfactory afternoon’s work in fourth.
Mike Skinner
With wins for top youngsters Johnny Hay and Charlie Purdue in the junior races, it appears to have been a great days cross country in the North East.
Full results and report will appear as they come through…
Leading placings
Men 2km race
1 5:58 Ricky Stevenson New Marske/Teeside Uni
2 6:04 Tsegai Tewelde Shettleston/Glasgow City/Eritrea
3 6:12 Chris Parr Gateshead
Women’s 8km race
1 28:25 Stephanie Twell (Sco) Aldershot, Farnham & District
2 28:47 Helen Clitheroe (Eng) Preston
3 29:00 Sonia Samuels (Eng) Manchester/Loughborough Uni
4 29:03 Faye Fullerton Havering Mayesbrook
5 29:07 Gemma Miles Kendal
6 29:17 Hatti Dean Hallamshire
