Molly Peel and Harry Hewitt defy thick mud for outstanding runs in South of England Cross Country Championships

Peterborough Nene Valley’s Molly Peel and Harry Hewitt battled their way through the thickest mud seen in years at Hampstead Heath on Saturday to enjoy outstanding runs in the South of England Cross Country Championships, writes Barry Warne.

Under 17 Peel has enjoyed a fine cross country season, winning her age group in the North Midlands league and taking silver at the Lincolnshire County Championship.

She didn’t disappoint against the best young talent in London and the South of England, finishing 30th on the hilly North London course.

Two of her teammates also performed well with Katie Tasker 55th and Hannah Knight crossing the line 81st.

Harry Hewitt has made huge strides forward over the past few months and was 31st out of 317 competitors in the under 15 boys race. Last year Hewitt finished 154th.

Like Peel, Hewitt won the individual title in the North Midlands league, and he went one better than his club mate in the Lincolnshire Championship where he won gold. In November, Hewitt was outstanding when winning the English Schools East Midlands Cross Country Championship.

Mike Sells also ran in the U15s race, finishing 249th.

Peterborough Nene Valley fielded five girls in the U15s event with Charlotte Cullen leading the way in 73rd. Lottie Hemmings and Elizabeth Eames finished together in 139th and 140th places. Chelsie Bole crossed the line 172nd with Josie Knight 184th.

Evie Hemmings had a good run in the under 13s race, finishing 88th, while Lucas Oakley was the 186th under 13 boy.

Harvey Hancock crossed the line 107th in the under 17 race with Sam Garner further back in 200th.

Harrison Miles was the only Peterborough Nene Valley senior man, finishing 482nd, while Werrington Jogger Jeff Lucas came home 508th while Yaxley’s Andy Savage finished 1,009th.

Helpston Harriers veterans Micky Moore and Paul Lunn both performed well in the energy-sapping senior men’s race. Moore completed the 12 km of unremitting mud 189th with Lunn a little way back in 257th.

There were 1172 runners on the start line.

Louise Hathaway, also of Helpston, was 356th in the senior ladies race as she continued her London Marathon preparation, while the local honours went to Yaxley’s Kayleigh Draper who finished 161st. Werrington Jogger Sandie Bloor came home 383rd.

Alex Hampson elected to run in the Midlands Cross Country Championship, which took place at Loughborough on the same day.

Hampson, the third member of the Peterborough Nene Valley trio of North Midlands Cross Country Championship winners, finished 37th.

Under 17s on the podium in Sheffield

Several Peterborough Nene Valley under 17s made it onto the podium at Sunday’s Sheffield Festival of Athletics.

Holly Aslin won her 60m race in a time of 8.32 and then achieved a distance of 5.13m to win long jump silver.

Keira Gilman also won her 60m race with an 8.12 clocking.

Max Aslin won bronze in the 60m with a time of 7.91 and followed up with a long jump of 4.99m.

Grace Tidman cleared 1.55m in the high jump and finished 3rd.

Three under 20s were in action and Evie Odlin won 400m bronze with a time of 64.78. Odlin clocked 2:23.23 in the 800m.

Archie Rainbow ran a 2:01.92 800m and long jumper Jasmine Allen jumped a distance of 4.93m. Veteran Dave Knighton ran the 1, 500m in a time of 5:18.12.

l Katie Marsh won two medals at the Keith Ward Memorial open meeting at King’s Lynn.

The talented 14 year old all rounder won long jump gold with a 4.75 leap, along with silver in the 60m hurdles in which she clocked a time of 9.90.