Athletics: Charnwood women land National Cross-Country relay title repeat

Charnwood women brilliantly defended their National Cross-Country Relay Championship at Mansfield's Berry Hill Park.

There was no stopping the Loughborough club's trio of Gemma Steel, Tara Krzywicki and Hannah Whitmore who stepped up to the plate over the three circuits of 3k to win with 14 seconds to spare.

It was Charnwood's fifth success in six years – and a fifth gold for Krzywicki, who was the quickest home runner and fourth fastest overall.

"We're really pleased with the way things went," said Charnwood team manager Sarah Whitmore. "We thought we would do well but this is great.

"The girls really love the relays and it was a fast course so it was very exciting."

Steel produced an excellent start for Charnwood by clocking 10min 15sec for seventh place before Krzywicki delivered a stunning performance to push the team into pole position.

She chased well to clock 9.58 and hand over to World cross-country finalist Hannah Whitmore.

Whitmore had a two-second advantage over Woodford Green with Bristol & West just behind in third. She ran an excellent leg to open up a 12-second advantage as she came home in 10.05.

"It was a bit touch-and-go for Hannah as she has had a sore ankle a few days before the race," said Whitmore.

"She is also in the process of moving back to the county from Surrey and had a job interview so there has been quite a bit of upheaval in the past couple of weeks.

"But she was determined, as were the other two girls, to do well at Mansfield and it's a great result."

Charnwood won in 30.19 with Bristol & West second in 30.33 and Woodford Green third in 30.40.

Charnwood also showed good strength-in-depth as the B team finished in 13th spot. Their team was Sarah Maude (10.36), Gemma Hillier (11.08) and Katie Lomas (11.09).

The senior men's title, ran over four stages, went to Bedford in a time of 1.01.12 with Blackheath & Bromley second in 1.01.35 and Bristol & West third in 1.01.37.

Leicester Coritanians fielded three teams with their Masters line-up, running as the A side, just outside the top 50.

Their time was 68.34 with Gordon Lee running 15.55 on the first leg with Gareth Deacon (17.38), Simon Cotton (16.44) and Derek Guess (18.15) completing the running order.

Coritanians' B were 99th and Coritanians C finished 106th.

Leading local results.

senior women (85 complete teams): 1 Charnwood A 30.19, 2 Bristol & West A 30.33, 3 Woodford Green 30.40, 13 Charnwood B 32.54, 14 Loughborough Students A 33.00, 38 Loughborough Students B 35.25, 54 Harborough A 38.21, 77 Wreake 42.46, 83 Hermitage Harriers 46.06.

Charnwood A 7 G Steel 10.15, 1 T Krzywicki 9.58, 1 H Whitmore 10.05, Charnwood B 16 S Maude 10.36, 16 G Hillier 11.08, 13 K Lomas 11.09, Lough Students A 38 A Snook 11.20, 18 A Campbell 10.39, 14 A Wilson 11.00, Lough Students B 45 J Orr 11.35, 40 E Damant 11.48, 38 P Williams 12.00, Harboro A 41 H Everleigh 11.32, 48 K Brooks 12.35, 54 N James 14.14, Wreake 58 Z Smith 12.03, 81 L Collingham 15.57, 77 L Goodbourn 14.45, Hermitage 98 J Matthews 13.54, 91 C Scrimshaw 17.25, 83 K Osbourne 14.46.

senior men (151 complete teams): 1 Bedford 1.01.12, 2 Blackheath & Bromley 1.01.35, 3 Bristol & West 1.01.37, 51 Lough Students A 1.08.24, 52 Leicester Coritanians A 1.08.34, 59 Charnwood A 1.09.18, 65 Harborough A 1.10.41, 99 Coritanians C 1.114.42, 104 Hermitage 1.15.30, 106 Coritanians B 1.15.47, 113 Harborough B 1.17.38, 116 Charnwood B 1.17.56, 131 Stilton Striders 1.21.44, 148 Wreake 1.31.17.

Lough Students A 26 L Moses 15.52, 26 P Street 15.58, 43 B Hales 18.37, 51 M Vardy 17.55, Coritanians A 28 G Lee 15.55, 52 G Deacon 17.38, 41 S Cotton 16.44, 52 D Guess 18.15, Charnwood A 46 P Swaine 16.22, 62 M Crofts 17.39, 64 R Brown 17.43, 59 P Harmer 17.33, Harborough A 42 S Fenwick 16.17, 46 A Robinson 17.09, 61 M Gore 18.09, 65 J Pitcher 19.05, Coritanians C 97 A Hart 17.56, 109 C Austin 19.29, 107 D Saunders 19.29, 99 R Sheen 17.46, Hermitage 51 A Watson 16.36, 79 P Gregory 18.33, 101 M Dumelow 21.02, 104 L Tomlinson 19.18.

Coritanians B 120 J Grindey 18.48, 116 C Voisey 19.12, 112 R Brookes 19.29, D Pearce 18.17, Harborough B 109 W Clapp 18.23, 124 H Delargy 20.22, 119 A King 19.43, 113 A Brookes 19.09, Charnwood B 119 T Whitmore 18.45, 131 N Scoggins 20.30, 114 G North 18.21, 116 K Pye 20.18, Stilton Striders 127 N Brown 19.03, 138 A Acres-McGuigan 21.16, 139 N Jaggard 22.09, 131 C Davidson 19.14, Wreake 139 J Ketteringham 19.50, 148 A Steel 22.22, 152 M Jelley 26.14, 148 J Skevington 22.49.