2018 County Cross Country Championships
Costello Park Hull – Sunday 7th January 2018
The annual County Cross Country Championships were staged in Costello Park in Hull on Sunday the 7th of January. This was the first time that the event has been held at the home of Kingston upon Hull Athletic Club. A total of 239 athletes competed at the event across all age groups from under 11’s upwards.
Three Kingston athletes Harry Powell, Baldvin Magnusson and Jodie Martin won individual gold medals. Shaun Smith and Thomas Smales won individual silver and Adam Fox an individual bronze medal. The Kingston under 15 boy’s team took the team gold and the under 13 girls won the team silver medal.
Senior Men – 12 Kilometre race
Reigning Champion Harry Powell had his first competitive outing of the new year. Running in the senior men’s 12 kilometre race he put in another excellent performance which saw him covering the course in a time of 41:13 sec to take his 4th consecutive County title. His training partner under 20 athlete Shaun Smith was the under 20 bronze medallist last year and he won the County titles in 2014 and 2015. He opted to run in the senior men’s race at this event where he was the silver medallist and he crossed the finish line in a time of 43:12 sec. V40 athlete Simon Downs was also in action in the race and his run of 48:44 sec saw him saw him cross the line in 16th position.
Under 20 Men – 8 Kilometre race
Iceland International Baldvin Magnusson was looking to defend the under 20 men’s title that he won at last year’s championships. He enjoyed an outstanding 2017 and he carried on his majestic run of form, covering the Costello course in 29:22 sec to win his second consecutive gold medal at these championships.
Under 15 Girls – 4.5 Kilometre race
Jodie Martin was the silver medallist at both the 2016 championships in Scunthorpe and the 2017 event at Barton on Humber and she too was hoping go one better this year and to take home the gold medal. Jodie was the dominant figure in the race and she put together a fine performance running the course in a time of 19:18 sec to take the 2018 County title. This race also saw Ella Shaw-Hall making her debut appearance at the County championships and she put in creditable performance crossing the finish line in 7th place and running the course in 22:00 sec.
Under 15 Boys – 5 Kilometre race
Four Kingston athletes were in action in the under 15 boy’s race where Thomas Smales and Adam Fox were competing at their third County championships and Oliver Adnitt and Harvey Southcoat were making their debut appearances. Thomas Smales had finished 5th at the 2016 event and 6th at last year’s competition and he was hoping to medal this year. Adam Fox was the silver medallist in 2017 and the two boys were locked in the battle for the silver and bronze medals which saw Thomas take 2nd place in the race running a time of 19:48 sec for the silver and Adam winning the bronze medal crossing the finish line in 19:54 sec. Oliver Adnitt ran the course in 24:07 sec finishing in 14th place with Harvey Southcoat in 15th who ran the course in a time of 24:24 sec. The foursome won the under 15 boys team Gold Medal.
Under 13 Girls – 3 Kilometre Race
Four Kingston athletes competed in the under 13 girls race, all four of them made their County championship debuts in the 3 kilometre race. The first Kingston girl home was Meabh Brannigan who ran the course in 13:37 sec and crossed the line in 9th place with Aimee Campbell close behind her in 10th place who ran a time of 13:42 sec. The next runner over the line was Amy Rotherey who covered the course in 14:45 sec and Lydia Moore’s run of 17:40 sec brought her home in 30th position. The four athletes were the under girls team silver medallists.
Under 20 Women – 6.5 Kilometre Race
Martha Savage made her debut at the 2014 championship meeting and she has improved her finishing position at the event in each succeeding year. She maintained her record again this year finishing in 5th place she ran the race in a time of 34:07 sec.
