Herne Hill Harriers’ junior squads took a collective leap towards Surrey League championship victories as they enjoyed a clean sweep of success in the latest round of cross country fixtures.
The club were first in all the weekend’s junior races, while Harriers’ senior men’s and women’s squad were both third, despite Cathy Ansell winning her second race of the cross country season. League table positions will be decided at the final fixtures of four in February, but Harriers’ teams already hold commanding leads in three of the four of age categories.
In respect of individuals, Ansell – who once again overcame injury to win at Wimbledon Common – shared Saturday’s winners’ rostrum with Oscar Millard, the victor in the U13B race at Streatham Common.
Millard led his U13B team to the top of the podium, ahead of Jaden Kennedy in second, Freddie Hodgson in 11th and Jacob Alley in 15th, bolstering the squad’s lead in their league.
The U17/U15 squad also won their race but trail South London Harriers in their bid for overall league honours. Racing as one mass field comprising the U13, U15 and U17 boys, Mohamed Mohamud was eighth (and second among the U15s), Paul Burgess tenth, Paul Chalobah (17th) and Malik Nadali (24th).
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Photos courtesy of Anna Waldeck-Evans
Herne Hill’s U13G were triumphant in the shape of Lulu Ling (second), Maisie Collis (third), Lily Waldbeck Evans (eighth) and Georgie Nunn (tenth), and lead their table. Harriers also won the U17/U15G race and top the league, with the latest success confirmed by Ella Newton (third), Lucy Olsen (fifth), Zoe Tompkins (ninth) and Daisy Setayabule (tenth).
Following Ansell in the senior women’s race was Karen Ellison (14th), Ceri Diss (25th), Julia Wedmore (29th) and Ruth Chalmers (55th), placing the group a creditable third. Similarly, the men’s third place at Streatham elevated them to fourth in their division. Mike Cummings led the way in ninth, with Alan Barnes (12th), Jeff Cunningham (14th), Tim Elsey (28th), Simon Coombes (30th), Jack Hillier (39th), John Tayleur (40th), Mohammed Ismail (53rd), Keith Newton (57th and first M50) and Jonny Muir (58th), making up the scoring ten.
Away from cross country, Feysel Nadew and Eloise O’Shaughnessy won golds in the U17B 1500m and U15G 1500m respectively at the SEAA U17/U15 indoor championships at Lee Valley. Mohammed Ali also claimed silver in the U15B 1500m. Significant performers in the 800m – a traditionally strong event for Herne Hill – included Paul Burgess (silver in the U17M), Lucy Olsen (silver in the U15G) and Oscar Millard (bronze in the U15B). Racing at the BMC Sheffield Open, Katie Snowden also began her 1500m track season with a third place.