UK Cross Challenge – Liverpool 24th November
The decision to take U17 squads to the UK Challenge in Liverpool proved to be well worthwhile with some promising performances from many of those lacking in experience of this type of competition. Those who have previously made forays into the Challenge series added further to their CV.
The girls race was included in the UK U20 Trial for the European Championships in December and a tough experience was always likely to be on the cards with a fast tempo from the gun. The long downhill start of over 500m saw the field enter the smaller of the two laps spread over some 60 / 70m and gradually being stretched as the likely contenders for honours set a brisk tempo. Charlotte Purdue produced a storming surge over the last mile to draw away for a great win whilst Joanne Harvey and Laura Park had superb runs to make the automatic qualification for Spain.
Back in the field Leah Dixon led the Welsh contingent from an early stage and gradually worked through the field as the race progressed. With vocal encouragement from the sidelines she seemed to gain in confidence and ultimately produce a very good 44th place. Second Welsh girl home was Leanne Fitzgerald who was disappointed with her run (60th)possibly resulting from a limited experience of this type of high level competition. One feels sure that her disappointment will be used to great effect in the coming months. Aneura Phillips was next just two places back. Further back in the field the rest of the team worked well throughout and despite finding the going tough produced some satisfactory results from which they will learn.
Lauren Regan and Gwenno Brown crossed the line virtually together (80 & 81) with Angharad Davies and Emily Downey not to far behind (86 /87). Next home was Benita Domen (101st) who finished strongly picking up many places over the last 1000m. Possibly a little too conservative early on but something which can be rectified from the experience whilst Dru Griffiths (107th) was a few spots further back having had a bit of an off day. 144 finished.
Unlike the girls race the boys event was confined to U17 only and so they did not have the U20 Trial to contend with. This made it no easier as the quality of the field was superb and the early pace was very competitive. Adam Bitchell went with the leaders from the gun along with team mate Dewi Griffiths and over the first quarter of the race both looked comfortable. Gradually however the pace took its toll and Adam dropped away whilst Dewi kept with the leading trio as they pulled out an advantage over the rest of the field. Never able to get to the front he was always just off the group and coming into the final 600m looked to be destined to be outside the medals. The long uphill run in however saw a tremendous battle. James Robinson had the lead and never looked like losing it but Dewi chased the other pair to the line and with the three of them flat out split them as they crossed the finish with all three recording the same time. A fabulous finish with Dewi showing a sign of a return to the form of previous years after recovering over the summer from his appendix op back in the spring.
Young Bitchell faded away to 20th but showed great spirit in his attacking approach and his improvement of the last 18 months will continue. Rhys Glastonbury was always in the 20’s and was never able to quite get on the pace at the front and finished just behind in 21st with Jonathan Hopkins taking a good 27th with Michael Kershaw 43rd after another solid run just a few places ahead of. Nicky Morrell who came 47th.
Hywel Jones ran a storming second lap to come home in 57th having run the last one and half laps with only one shoe. Stephen Pierce and Adam Jones shared the same time in 64th & 65th places to complete the squad. 105 finished.
An excellent day with a fine team spirit from all the party. A very good development opportunity for the 18 athletes which must surely help in their progress over the coming seasons. Full results on UK athletics web site
John Griffiths
