Talented trio strike gold as Harriers finish with a flourish

The North Midlands Cross-Country League reached its conclusion on Saturday with three Nene Valley Harriers runners featuring among the prizewinners.
Pictured are members of the Nene Valley Harriers senior ladies tea. From the left they are Grace Mullins, Cat Foley-Wray, Nicky Morgan and Chloe Pavey.Pictured are members of the Nene Valley Harriers senior ladies tea. From the left they are Grace Mullins, Cat Foley-Wray, Nicky Morgan and Chloe Pavey.
Pictured are members of the Nene Valley Harriers senior ladies tea. From the left they are Grace Mullins, Cat Foley-Wray, Nicky Morgan and Chloe Pavey.

Megan Ellison, Nicky Morgan and James McCrae all led their age groups before the fixture at Nottingham, and the talented trio made no mistakes on the challenging Wollaton Park course, ensuring that plenty of silverware returned to Peterborough.

Ellison has been going from strength to strength over recent months and her second place finish saw her take top spot in the girls Under 17 standings. The Stamford-based youngster gained one race win and two second place finishes in the four-race series.

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Nicky Morgan took the ladies veteran honours winning her race comfortably. Morgan finished the league season unbeaten having been first veteran home in all four races.

Lloyd Kempson ran well in his last race before moving to Australia.Lloyd Kempson ran well in his last race before moving to Australia.
Lloyd Kempson ran well in his last race before moving to Australia.

James McCrae won the men’s Under 20 title in what turned out to be a golden weekend for the young Harrier. He travelled to Birmingham on Sunday winning the Midlands indoor Under 21 800m title.

Nene Valley were challenging for medals in most of the age groups before the final meeting.

However, an unfortunate clash of fixtures which saw the Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire Schools Cross-Country Championship taking place on the same day, as well as both the Northern and Southern Indoor Track and Field Championships, left the city club somewhat depleted in the junior categories.

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This gave the seniors a chance to take centre stage, which they did in style.

Amber Park finished fourth in the Under 15 girls race.Amber Park finished fourth in the Under 15 girls race.
Amber Park finished fourth in the Under 15 girls race.

Cat Foley-Wray led the ladies home over the 6k course finishing third with a typically gutsy run. Grace Mullins wasn’t far behind in sixth position with Morgan the16th runner home in a race which included senior and veteran athletes. Abi Schofield (22nd) and Chloe Pavey (35th) were also well placed.

The senior and Under 20 men’s race saw Lloyd Kempson finish 11th in his final race for Nene Valley before moving to Australia.

The popular 21 year-old covered the 10k course in a time of 36.52. He has already secured himself a new club and coach in Sydney.

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McCrae was just one place behind Kempson while Jake Richardson ran well for 19th position and James McDonald (62nd) and John Nash (104th) also enjoyed good runs.

Lloyd Kempson ran well in his last race before moving to Australia.Lloyd Kempson ran well in his last race before moving to Australia.
Lloyd Kempson ran well in his last race before moving to Australia.

Paul Parkin, Alex Wray and Simon Turnock completed the team.

Hugo Brill and Lottie Hemmings were the best placed Nene Valley boy and girl in the mixed Under 11s event, and Ethan Ellison and Harry Burchnell secured top 20 finishes in the boys Under 15 age group.

One of the day’s highlights was Amber Park’s fourth place finish for the Under 15 girls race.

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The Nene Valley senior men and women both completed the series as runners-up to Notts AC.

Amber Park finished fourth in the Under 15 girls race.Amber Park finished fourth in the Under 15 girls race.
Amber Park finished fourth in the Under 15 girls race.

Despite fielding weakened teams at Nottingham, Harriers finished the season third in the mixed Under 11 and girls Under 13 age groups in what was a very pleasing campaign for coach Russ Prosser’s squad.

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