In spite of some very good individual performances at this year’s Sussex AAA Cross Country Championships, medals were hard to come by. Grace Baker did not disappoint, front running from the gun and winning the 4 km under 15 girls event by a massive 48 seconds in a time of 17.08 to maintain her unbeaten season in Sussex. She forced the former Spanish national champion Summer Ibrahim into second place, Ibrahim although being resident in Lanzarote, qualifies to run for Sussex through birth. Baker was joined by Lauren Ellis (22.49) and Chloe Reed (23.53) in 20th and 21st respectively enough to give them 4th team spot. The only other individual medal of the day came from Ross Skelton in the under 17 mens event, finishing just 5 seconds behind Phoenix AC’s Charlie Grice, Skelton (17.57) was flying at the finish but just left it a little late to take the title. Max Thomas had a very strong run in the same event coming home in fourth in 18.43 with Kris Everett, battling with the after effects of a cold, claiming eight spot in 19.19. This gave them the same points total as the Brighton & Hove AC team but the placing of the last scorer resulting in them taking second team spot. The other silverware was earned by the under 13 boys team who managed team bronze thanks to Ryan Hodd (12.42) 4th, Luke Cooper (13.40) 16th and Anthony Donaldson (13.48) 17th with Alfie Jeffrey coming home in35th in 17.08.

The under 13 girls race had seven Hastings AC runners with Louise Nash leading the way in fourth place in 13.36 she was followed by Dorothy Wilson (16.18) 21st, Zoe Botting (17.26) 31st, Katie Garland (17.40) 34th, Rebecca Haggar (18.24) 37th, Natasha Bird (18.27) 38th and Bryony Pegg (19.41) 42nd. Garland, who would have been expecting a top 8 spot, showed great courage to complete the race in spite of turning her ankle in the early stages. In the under 15 boys James Western had a superb run to finish in 11th place in 20.08 he was joined by Ryan Higgs (23.39) 24th and Harry Reece running up an age group (24.35) 26th. In the 6.5km senior womens race Holly Wheeler was the first Hastings AC finisher crossing the line in 29.19 in 9th place closely followed by Amelia Jobling (30.41) 17th (5th under 20), Lucy Baker (32.03) 24th (7th under 20), Kayleigh Clusker (33.54) 41st (13th under 20) & Amy Whittle (35.01) 47th. Jason Jeffrey was the only finisher in the under 20 mens race coming in 6th place. The senior mens team was decimated by late withdrawals and no shows, in spite of this Henry Mountcastle had a strong run finishing the tough 12 km course in 47.03 in 18th place, Josh Varney was only 12 seconds behind crossing the line in 20th place in 47.15. next to finish was Andy Lamb (52.21) in 50th, Sam Grain (56.18) 70th, Bill Darby (57.23) 79th, Mark Reece (62.17) 91st & John Gately (66.35) 1001st.

Grace Baker, Ross Skelton, Max Thomas, Ryan Hodd & Louise Nash have all been automatically selected to represent Sussex at the National Intercounties Championships at Birmingham in March. On the fringes of selection and needing a good race next Saturday to catch the team managers eye are Kris Everett, & Holly Wheeler. Stacey Clusker was unable to compete in the County Champs due to illness but should also be hopeful of selection. Adam Clarke was reassured of his Sussex place in spite of surprisingly pulling out of the under 20 mens race.

Hastings AC are the host to the next round of the Sussex Cross Country League staged at Bexhill Down on Saturday the 9th January with the first race at 12.30pm.