Katy-Ann McDonald’s outstanding winter continued on Saturday as she was crowned Surrey schools cross country champion. Despite being among the youngest in the junior girl’s (Years 8 and 9) age category, McDonald dominated the race, finishing 34 seconds clear of her nearest rival at Priory Park, Reigate. McDonald’s latest accolade follows a first place finish in the U13 girl’s race at the McCain UK Cross Challenge Series in Antrim last month, which came a week after she became Surrey cross country champion in her age group.
Another HHH athlete attracting plaudits is Cambridge University student Lewis Lloyd, who finished 15th in a high-class field at the British Universities and Colleges Sport cross-country championships. Like McDonald, Lloyd became Surrey cross-country champion in his respective age category in January.
There was further success for Harriers at the East Surrey League cross-country relays on Wimbledon Common, with the club clinching victory in all competitions. The senior men’s team comprising Ross Macdonald, John Tayleur, Vic Maughn and Deron Fagan finished one minute and 31 seconds ahead of second-place Croydon Harriers. Macdonald’s time of 10:11 for the 1.95-mile course was the club’s fastest leg, with Fagan just a second slower.
The club also claimed first, second and third places in the combined U17/U15 relay. 14 year old Ed Olsen’s impressive first leg of 10:13 – only two seconds short of Macdonald’s benchmark – propelled Harriers into an unassailable lead, before strong runs from U15 Paul Burgess and U17 Merhawi Yemane confirmed overall victory.
An all-girls team made up of sisters Alice and Daisy Setyabule and Olivia Lamont were runners-up to the boys. The U13 competition, ran as solo legs rather than the relay format, was won by Sam Cohen in 12:06, with Tatiana Cooke first girl and fifth overall in 12:44.
Away from cross-country, Chris Busaileh was Harriers’ highest-placed finisher at the Chichester Priory 10k, clocking 31:26 to finish 10th in windy conditions. Mike Cummings finished in 23rd, running 32:03. Fast-improving Sue Swaine ran a best time of 39:42 to finish 30th woman, while Penel Fixter also logged a personal best, finishing in 46:24.
The weekend’s leading parkrun performer from HHH was veteran Ben Paviour, whose time of 16:22 won the Southend event, while Mohammed Ismail was second at Dulwich Park clocking 16:40. Jonny Muir was fifth at Dulwich in 17:24 and Richard Wonnacott sixth in 17.40. Meanwhile, Gary Ironmonger was eighth at the Brockwell parkrun, posting a time of 18:36.