As Press Secretary for Highgate Harriers, I consider the performance of Highgate’s Senior Men’s and Women’s teams - which both finished third in the English National Cross Country Championships on 22 February - to be the best joint (Women’s & Men's) club team result on a 'National' platform for at least the last 50 years.
The men’s team were third (9 to score) from 59 clubs that completed a team in a race in which 1,715 runners finished. The event was run on a muddy Wollaton Park course near Nottingham. The first three clubs were Tonbridge (536), Bristol and West AC (640) and Highgate Harriers (650).
Alex Lepretre, whose best previous run in the ' National' was 39th, came in 12th in 45:02. Highgate’s other scorers were: 45, Roger Poolman (46:42); 48, Alex Bampton (46:45); 60, Sean Renfer (47:04); 65, Chris Rainsford (47:13); 84, Robel Bahelbi (47:34); 88, Charlie Haywood 47:37; Captain of the team, Rob Wilson, in 117th place in 48:12; and Terry Fawden in 131st (48:36). The individual winner was from Brendan Foster's old club, Calum Johnson of Gateshead in 43:36.
Now for the bronze medal-winning women’s team. The first three teams were Aldershot Farnham & District (48), Leeds City AC (58) and Highgate Harriers (159).
Highgate’s four to score were led home by Hannah Viner who finished in an excellent 12th position in 34:47. She was followed in by Nina Griffith in 31st (36:29), Yasmin Goater in 34th (36:42) and Vicky Walker in 82nd (38:20). 919 runners finished the race, which was won by Anna Moller, the European Cross Country Champion, in 32:59.
A TALENT AT UNIVERSITY
Alex Bampton was 22nd in the prestigious British Universities and Colleges Championships in Edinburgh on 1st February. His time for the 10k cross-country course was 33:53. The winner was Mahamed Mahamed, an international from Southampton Solent University, with a time of 32:06. 339 athletes completed the race.
24-Feb-2020 Alastair Aitken