Athletes shine in cross country (From Leigh Journal)

Leigh Harriers athletes shine in cross country

4:25pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in Sport

SNOW and freezing conditions did not discourage more than 300 runners in the third South East Lancashire Cross Country League meeting.

The event, at Leigh Sports Village and Pennington Country Park, featured hosts Leigh Harriers finishing in the top two in eight individual races and six team races.

Keely Hodgkinson maintained her 11-race unbeaten record in cross country in the under 11s girls’ showdown over 1,500m She had more than 20 seconds to spare at the finish with her 6mins 11secs.

Joanna Smith, Sian Ridyard, Hannah Geeson, Megan Geeson, Emma McIntyre, Taylor Ridyard, and Grace Newton won second team place.

The convincing under 11s boys’ team winners were in top form, with Ben McLaughlin second in 6mins 6secs, Kyle Jones third, Connor Wyatt fourth, Coel Mellor fifth, Shea Mellor seventh, William Hewitt 11th, Billy Blain 13th, Joseph Sweeney 15th and Patrick Hewitt 16th.

James Wardle continued his outstanding form in the under 15s boys’ two-mile race, winning in 13mins 7secs.

Sam Wardle was second in 13mins 18secs, Dominic Howarth fifth in 14mins 5secs, and Jordan Smith ninth in another convincing team win Tom Knellor consolidated his position as leading under 20s man in the league with his third win of the season.

Over a six-miles course, he had his best race in the league to date, winning in 34mins 51secs.

Liam Moore also ran well for second place in 35mins 34secs and, with Alex Hayes in sixth place, the team won the under 20s men’s race.

This helped the senior team of Phil Williams 14th, Alister Goulding 20th, Alex Urmston 28th, John Indricks 36th, Sean Spillane 37th, Duncan McCarrick 66th, Andy Howarth 72nd and Martin Jones 74th to second team place.

Sabrina Walley won second place in the girls’ under 17s three-mile race in 21mins 46secs, with Leah Peploe third in 21mins 46secs.

In the senior women’s race, Sarah Griffiths completed the four-mile course in 26mins 27secs for second place. Teammate Louisa Thompson also ran well in third place in 27mins 7secs.

Ursula Mellor 21st, Emma Tongue 26th, Carly Sinclair 49th and Dianne Denny 61st were Leigh’s third team winners of the day.

The under 15s girls’ team sealed second place, led home by Eleanor Bond third in 15mins 48secs. Olivia Stone was ninth, Anita Patterson 10th on debut and Melissa Evans 12th.

In the boys’ under 13s contest, Joseph Wane was seventh, Christian Wade ninth and Alex Pickersgill 14th as the team came home third.