MP Rob Halfon gets runners on their way

To celebrate its 50th anniversary year Harlow Athletics Club hosted a successful under 11s cross country race for the first time at the Town Park on Saturday.

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The race over 2k attracted runners from all over Essex and East Herts. The course was saturated from the previous night’s rain and very muddy in places.

However, two course records were broken and some excellent racing was witnessed by a good crowd present including Harlow MP Robert Halfon who presented the awards.

Also present were Essex runners Amelia Barrett and Canaan Solomon who acted as “hares” for both races and did a fantastic job. Essex Schools cross country bronze medallist Alicia McArdell and West Schools Inter Girls cross country champion Isobel Moss ran at the back of both races encouraging the young athletes to complete the course.

The 1st Kingsmoor Scout Group from Harlow were also in attendance, laying on refreshments and a large marquee which gave shelter to the athletes in the driving rain.

Organiser John Stow, said: “Despite the driving rain and soggy conditions underfoot for this event it did nothing to dampen the spirits from all those taking part.

“There was a great atmosphere with leaders from 1st Kingsmoor Scout Group mingling with the newly formed committee of Harlow Athletics Club together with the St John’s Ambulance team. We were all really pleased with the way it went.”

The girls race saw 32 starting the 2k course but it quickly developed into a three-way tussle with Benfleet’s Sinead Clark, Harlow athlete Molly Gardner and Herts Phoenix Imogen Walker battling it out up front.

Sinead led the way and at the finish managed to hold off a determined run in from young Molly to edge home in 7min 35 sec – a new course record. Molly posted 7min 38sec, just holding off the Herts cross country under 11s champion Imogen who crossed the line in 7min 40sec.

In eighth place was an excellent run from 1st Kingsmoor member Chloe Liddon, just in front of Lauren Barker from Harlow AC in ninth place.

The boys’ race had 25 starters and was a triumph for Southend’s Mitchell Cox in a new record of 6min 50sec, with Harlow athlete Lewis Harknett having an excellent run to place second in 6min 57sec.

Harlow AC had four runners in the first six with Owen Harknett fourth, Alfie Poole fifth and Christian Barker sixth.