Dereham runners test themselves in Norfolk Cross Country Championships
Under-15 Dereham runners (red vests) in action at Thetford. Picture: Samantha Ling - Credit: Archant
The weekend saw 12 junior and two senior Dereham runners tackle the elements on what was a very windy and cold day over in Thetford in this year's Norfolk County Cross Country Championships.
Prizewinners, from left to right, Emma Potter-Campbell, Paula Olley and Carol Devlin at Dereham Runners Athletics Club's annual presentation evening. Turn inside for report. Picture: Ashley Jarvis Media - Credit: Archant
The races covered age groups from under 11 up to and including 70+ veterans and the Dereham runners were up against some of the tp athletes in the county.
For some of the juniors this was their first taste of a competition of this size.
In 50-54 women Tracy Anderton was 12th with a time of 47:29 and the U20 men runner Jake Stearman finished second in 35:32
Ethan Barrett in the U11 boys race (2k) finished in 26th place with a time of 13:35 and in U11 girls Imogen Davey was 21st in 11:42 and Eliza Adcock 26th place in 12:43.
The U13 boys race (3k) saw Louis Preston coming in 16th place in a time of 14:09 while in 22nd place was Jacob last in 15:12.
In the U15 girls Erin McNulty crossed the line in eighth place with a time of 19:24 while in 15th place was Beth Barrett who finished the 4.2k race in 22:17.
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The U15 boys ran the same distance and Ryan Lingwood was 13th in 17:06 and just behind him in 14th place with 17:11 was Sam Swales and in 17th place Sam Anderton in 17:36. The U15 boys finished sixth overall in the team rankings.
In the U17 women race (6.8K) Ellie Foster finished sixth with a time of 32:55 and she was followed in by Abi Foster in seventh in 33:11.
Meanwhile the Dereham Runners' junior section continues to thrive, with 40 young athletes currently in training and several others patiently waiting for a place.
Junior athlete of the year went to strong all rounder Kai Wiseman, while Ellie Foster took home the cross country award, having been selected to run both for Norfolk County and Norfolk Schools.
Beth Barrett won the track and field category, having placed first in 11 events in 2017, including a personal best of 12.6 seconds over the 75 metre hurdles, giving her a national ranking of 221.
Dedication to training is honoured by the endeavour award, given to William Osborne, with the coaches' award going to Louis Preston, who had excelled both at javelin and middle distance U13 running, shaving a massive 27 seconds off his personal best in a single 1,500 metre run.
