Vernon and Murray run away with titles
This weekend saw the English regional champs and the Scottish national 4km champs take place with some great racing taking place up. Following on from his great run at the Great North Cross Steve Vernon trounced a good quality field in the North of England champs at a muddy St. Helens.
The Stockport athlete was never troubled by the tricky conditions as he went for the long run for home, covering the last two laps alone to win by almost 40 seconds on the 12km course.
Vernon (12) is rounding into form on the country...
Freya Murray pretty much did the same at the Scottish Athletics 4K Cross Country Championships in Bellahouston Park (Glasgow) – winning by 30 seconds over the short-course distance. Both athletes must now be fully in contention for the GB team that travels to Amman in late March for the World XC Champs – course there is the small matter of the trials to negotiate first.
Murray is a quality athlete on the track and XC
Kendal-based GB international Gemma Miles beat pre-race favourite Hatti Dean into second place in the Northern womens race, with fell runner Sarah Tunstall completing the podium in a high quality field. Dave Webb and Gareth Raven filled 2nd and 3rd in the mens race behind the dominant Vernon.
Phil Wicks - no stranger to big wins
The South of England champs saw a great win for Phil Wicks on the Hillingdon course, overcoming a spirited effort by Windsor athlete Benedict Whitby and in the womens race Woodford Green athlete Kathrine Sparke ran out an easy winner.
Up in Scotland the adopted-by-Shettleston Harriers junior Tsegai Tewelde (Shettleston Harriers) won the men’s race by two seconds from team mate and fellow Eitrean Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab, Central AC’s Alastair Hay ran well in third.
Selected Results
Scottish 4km Champs, Glasgow
Men
1. Tsegei Tewelde (Shettleston Harriers)
2. Tewoldeberhan Mengisteab (Shettleston Harriers)
3. Ali Hay (Central AC)
Women
1. Freya Murray (Edinburgh AC)
2. Nicola Hood (VP-Glasgow)
3. Lyn Wilson (Carnethy HRC)
South of England Champs, Hillingdon
Men
1 Phil Wicks Belgrave Harriers
2 Benedict Whitby Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow AC
3 Neilson Hall Bedford & County AC
4 Mike Coleman Medway & Maidstone AC
5 Ben Lindsay Aldershot Farnham & District
6 Matt Janes Bedford & County AC
Women
1 Katherine Sparke Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies
2 Faye Fullerton Havering Mayesbrook AC
3 Nicola Sykes Bedford & County AC
4 Olivia Walwyn City of Norwich AC
5 Emily Adams Aldershot Farnham & District
6 Lauren Deadman Havering Mayesbrook AC
North of England Champs, St.Helens
Men
1 Steven Vernon Stockport Harriers
2 David Webb Leeds City AC
3 Gareth Raven Sale Harriers Manchester
4 M Hood Sunderland Harriers & AC
5 A Jones Salford Harriers
6 Jonathon Gilby Derby AC
Women
1 Gemma Miles Kendal
2 Hatti Dean Hallamshire Harriers
3 Sarah Tunstall Kendal
4 S Thomas Sale Harriers
5 V Wilkinson Bingley Harriers
6 Allison Dixon Chester Le Street & Dist AC
The Midland championships results are unavailable at the time of this report.
