St Albans Athletics Club and St Albans Striders were both heavily involved in the fifth and final round of the Chiltern Cross Country League – with the youngsters leading the way.
Keira Stern and James Moore claimed two silver medals, on an individual and team level, while there were four other team silvers across the age groups in the rain and mud of Campbell Park, Milton Keynes.
Phoebe Gill got things off to a good start with third in the U11 girls’ race, but the boys excelled, with Matthew Nichols picking up the team medals in fifth place ahead of Adam Smith (10th).
The U13 girls have impressed all year and this was no different as they packed Lilly Tse, Sarah Mcgrath and Antonia Grubb into the top 10 to claim team silver, with Adam Grimes leading the bronze medal charge for the boys’ squad.
Moore was three seconds off the win in the U15 boys’ race but that helped them to second in the team competition and Christy Durbin attacked this fixture, taking fifth in the girls’ race.
More team medals came in the U17/20 women’s age group with Stern getting her two gongs, with the team made up by Caitlin Eckley and Emily Anders.
Catherine O’Connor continued her preparation for the London Marathon with another solid run to finish third Strider in the senior race.
Jenny Maddocks, Caroline Bailes, Zoe Lowe and Wendy Walsh were the second vet women’s team with Walsh finishing the series with the F45 individual trophy.
Liz Walls was second in the series in the F55, Martin Halling second M60 and Jonathan Scott third M40.
The series ended with the senior women sixth and the senior men eighth. Together with AC, St Albans came fifth overall.
On Sunday, four Striders took part in the Love Welwyn Garden City 10K.
Richard Witter finished in 41 minutes 11 seconds while Clair Drage recorded a new PB of 49.28.
Nicki Francis ran 58.33 and Jessica MacGregor also got a new PB of 1:00.43.
Five Striders ran the Bramley 20-mile race.
Ian Hirth recorded a new PB, taking four minutes off his time, while Deirdre Heydecker came first in the FV60 age category.
Shanti Johnson, Laura Astley and Rose McGuinness crossed the line together in 2:59.02.
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