Blog
On Saturday, 36 athletes from Herts Phoenix Athletics Club travelled to Claybury Park for the opening fixture of the new Metropolitan Cross Country League season where 4 of the day’s 8 events were won by athletes from the club.
Brett Rushman (1st) and Khai Mhlanga (1st) both made light work of the undulating Claybury course to claim their first ever victories in the senior men and the senior women races respectively. Both athletes impressed as they finished more than half a minute clear of their nearest rivals. Following Khai home in the senior women’s races with a first ever top 10 finish in the league was Harriet Kealy (9th) whilst second athlete home for the men with a career best finish at senior level was Caleb O’ Neil, (20th). Brett and Caleb led a squad of 12 senior men home, including league debutants Cameron Bailey (188th), George Lynch (191st), Dom Thomas (267th) and Dominic Mason (275th), to secure sixth place in division 2 on the day. The senior women are competing in the top division for the first time this season and despite being 2 athletes short of a full team, finished a respectable 8th place thanks to Sally Judd (40th) and Eleanor Mason (93rd).
Earlier in the day, defending champion Luke Dunham (1st) took a comfortable victory in the junior men’s race. Luke has been in fine form during 2024, reaching the podium in multiple national events and it’s difficult to see him conceding the crown in his final season in this age category. Ben Murphy (9th) was next home for the club, followed by Jake Summers (16th), who looked unfazed in his first race at junior men level. Sean Mazur (23rd) ensured the boys took second place on the day, beating the defending champions Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers to sit just 10 points behind Claybury host club Woodford Green and Essex Ladies after 1 race.
In the under 13 boys race, Joshua Maiden (1st) showed race craft beyond his young years as he patiently tracked his rivals before racing to victory on the second lap. Completing a successful campaign opener for the U13 team were Alban Wadley (15th) and Thomas Summers (27th). Henry Wakefield (3rd) shook off the effects of a recent seasonal illness with a brave run in the under 11 boys event and will hope to get even closer to the front of the race next time out.
Cora Naylor (10th) is another athlete stepping up to junior level this season and didn’t look out of place battling the older athletes at the front of the race. Jess Lane (35th) worked hard to earn a respectable top half finish as the only other athlete from Herts Phoenix in the junior women race.
In the under 13 girls, Amelie Axam (12th) and Eloise Steel (30th) both made solid starts to the season whilst Missy Steel (31st), got a first taste of league action as the only club athlete in the under 11 girls race. Next month, the league makes a long awaited return to Horsenden for race 2 of the 2024/25 season.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Herts Phoenix athlete Deborah Rushman finished second in her age group at the Northern Ireland masters cross country championships and trials to earn selection to represent Northern Ireland at the British and Irish Masters in Belfast next month. Meanwhile on Sunday, Wodson Park athlete Oscar Bell smashed the course record and his own personal best as he was first to cross the finishing line at the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London in a staggeringly fast time of 65 minutes and 12 seconds.
2023/24 Junior Men champion Luke Dunham in action at Claybury Park
