Kate Avery sole medallist for region in Leeds

Mar 1 2010 by Les Venmore, The Journal

SHILDON’S Kate Avery was the region’s sole medallist at Saturday’s Saucony English National Cross Country Championships at Roundhey Park, Leeds.

The European Junior Bronze medallist was in the leading group of three for much of the challenging two-lap course, but could not manage the late finish of 2008 English Schools champion Joanne Harvey of Exeter who broke away from her rival in the final 600m.

Birtley’s Lydia Turner ran well to finish seventh in the Under 13 Girls’ Race behind Hope Goddard of Bracknell.

Northern champion Ben Spencer of Middlesbrough finished 8th in the Under 13 Boys’ Race which was won by George Duggan of Tunbridge.

Fergus Roberts of Richmond, the 2008 Under 13 champion, took seventh place in the Under 15 Boys’ Race behind winner James McMurray of St Albans.

Aldershot’s Steph Twell returned to something like her best form to win the Senior Women’s title.

The three times European Junior champion waited until the final lap before pulling clear of Cheshire’s Stevie Stockton.

Former Elswick Harrier Justina Heslop of Clapham finished 13th and Charnwood took the team title.

Andy Vernon won the feature event for Senior Men dropping his main rival Maumin Geele of Newham in the final kilometre.

Defending champion Steve Vernon of Stockport finished third.

The winner also led his club Aldershot Farnham and District to the team title ahead of local favourites Leeds City.

New Marske’s Ricky Stevenson was the leading north-east athlete in 21st place.

BERNARD Lagat’s fast finishing speed helped him win his first ever title at the United States Indoor Championships in Albuquerque.

Lagat prevailed in a close but slow 3000 metres race at the high-altitude venue after outsprinting Galen Rupp to win by 0.89seconds in eight minutes 13.49 seconds with Chris Solinsky third in 8min 13.85sec.

The victory assured Lagat, who won the World Indoor title for Kenya in 2004, of selection for this year’s championships being held in Doha from March 12-14.

“I didn’t know how I was going to feel with the altitude,” Lagat said. “I actually didn’t feel anything after about five laps. I just wanted to have fun.

“I was running on the inside. I wanted to be able to keep an eye on who was going to make a move. I just wanted to win and make the team.

“I wanted to maintain the lead. I wanted to make sure I was going to be number one. That is what I came here for.”