Page 12 - BBHAC Winter 2017-18 Gazette

12

The Under 20s Over The Country

2017-2018
and lead off man for the seniors 14th. The A string were led by
Always considered one thing or also competed at these relays for Birmingham University student
another, whether the most mature BB as an U20, only 7 years ago Jess Keene (4th fastest leg),
of the young athletes or mature and Phil recorded the second Katie Anne McDonald on leg
and strong enough to run with fastest time of the day this year, 2 (fastest leg of the day) and
the ‘adults’ the Under 20s are a fantastic statistic (and run!). In Cambridge University student
a category unto themselves in the seniors ladies teams we also Niamh Bridson Hubbard (4th
the summer. They do however had U20’s racing, encouraging fastest leg).
come under the umbrella of Paul for the future and in a few short
Austridge who covers all forms years we may well see our cur- At the Kent xc champs the U20
of young athlete, but can be as rent crop of youngsters racing in women also secured team silver
versatile and independent as our senior teams. medals with all three of our girls
the circumstances allow. Their tightly bunched with Jess Keene
presence in different levels does of At Somerhill in the second in 5th, Lottie Weitzel 6th, and
course provide encouraging signs Race of the Kent League season Lucy Elms in 7th and the U20
for the future of the club and the Blackheath had no represen- men matched the girls also
anticipation of a healthy reservoir tatives in the U20 races as our winning team silver for their
of talent to draw on in coming U20’s chose to race in the efforts. Lewis Mills brought the
years. longer senior races. Jess Keene team home in 5th, with Charlie
extended her run of great form Davis 12th, Joss Barber 13th
Running in senior races winning her first senior Kent and Oscar Hussey 14th.
Yet again the U20s find league race looking comfortable The U20 women were unable to
themselves having to complete all the way around the 5k circuit.
outside their own category in Kelsey Fuss looked good fin- field a scoring team last year at
some events and, as seniors in ishing 19th as did Sam Leighton the Nat xc champs but well and
truly made up for it this year as
waiting often have to step up to in 40th and Joanna Clowes they combined to win a fantastic
the full level. In the National in 42nd.
road relays there was no U20 team bronze. Strong runs from
newly crowned senior England
race at this Championship so it In the senior men’s race Richard International Jess Keene in
Webb used his study break from
was great to see First year U20 Cardiff University well finishing 13th, Niamh Bridson Hubbard
Lewis Mills making the senior
mens first team, considering high up in 12th, Charlie Davis in 17th, Yasmin Austridge in
30th, Amy Leach 79th and Lucy
he was still running as an U17 excelled at the senior distance Elms in her first National, 93rd
of 10k and crossed the line in
last year. In fact looking at our solid 20th. Thomas Desborough secured the 3rd place finish.
senior first team, most of them
have come through the junior was a great 37th and fellow Another piece of silverware
ranks and it’s encouraging to U20 James Crawley was a good was secured in Kent League
67th and Scott Bulmer in 182th
see the team made up of relative completed the U20 squad. at Danson Park (Race 4); U20
youngsters (all in their 20’s). Lewis Mills had a great race
GB international Will Fuller Medal winners coming 2nd and adding this to
ran the relays as an U17 only 4 When the athletes did compete his previous Kent league series
years ago and was 9th fastest on at U20 level they showed placings of 1st, 2nd and 3rd,
his leg this year. Birmingham their ability as at the National rightly secured him firmly at
University legend / XC captain cross country relays. The U20 the top of the individual league,
Will Ruiz raced at Sutton Park women enjoyed medal success collecting a handsome trophy
as a U17 only 6 years ago. GB winning a fine team silver with for his efforts. Oscar Hussey
international Phil Sesemann
their B team finishing a good is a regular at the Kent league