Bedford & County AC's Senior Men's squad were in action on Saturday, earning much deserved but very hard fought for silver medals in the National Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield.
This relay is contested over 4 legs of 5K, each leg comprising 2 laps of a very testing undulating loop. With over 150 teams toeing the start line, including all the top teams in the country, it is one of the most anticipated events of the season.
The county Cross Country championships are on Saturday 14th December at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes.
The championships are being held in December this year instead of the usual January fixture.
The closing date for entries is Sunday 8th December.
Well done to everyone who ran in the ERRA National Road Relays in Birmingham on Saturday.
In wet and gloomy conditions, which preceded a six-hour thunder storm of biblical proportions, Thaila-Jade Mason claimed her sixth championship medal and second international of 2024, at the English Schools Heptathlon Championships in Stoke on Trent on 21/22 September.
Her first ever false start in the 80 hurdles did not augur well, but nevertheless she ran 12.25 sec, to place 6th after the first event. A superb high jump with first time clearances up to and including 1.65m (only a centimetre shy of her lifetime best) saw her leap into second place. However, her worst shot putt of the season of only 8.34m dropped her to 4th . With the storm clouds gathering and lightening about to strike, Thaila’s 200m run of 26.50 sec, saw her drop another place, but still within striking distance of the three above her.
Her best event, the long jump, opened the second day, but with conditions as they were, she was limited to just 5.48 metres. However, others were affected to an even greater extent, allowing her to regain second place; but with javelin and 800m metres at which her rivals were much stronger on paper, nothing could be taken for granted and her aim of being in the top four to secure an international vest was by no means certain.
Thaila took a giant step closer, amazing everyone, including herself, and shocking her rivals, when she launched the javelin out to 31.79m - a five and a half metre improvement on her personal best, consolidating her second place and putting herself further ahead.
Well done to everyone who ran in the South of England Road Relays yesterday. There were some outstanding team and individual performances from Bedford and County Athletes, including 3rd place for the Senior Men's A team.
Results:
U13 Boys A - 14th
Ethan, Tyler & Harry N
U13 Boys B - 43rd
Thomas & Jake
U15 Girls - 51st
Eleanor & Megan
U15 Boys A - 33rd
Fraser, Harry & Oliver C
U15 Boys B - 44th
Henry, Oliver H & Dexter
Well done to everyone who ran in the postponed National Cross Country Championships at Weston Park in Staffordshire on Saturday 14th September.
Bedford and County results:
Lyla Danobrega 31st, 21:04
Eleanor Smith 79th, 17:43
Rosie Cusack 134th, 14:14
Ethan Cairns 59th, 43:21