Newark AC senior men and women both qualify for national finals at Midlands Road Relays in Sutton Coldfield

Newark AC senior men and women both qualified for the nationals after impressing in the Midlands Road Relays held at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, on Saturday.

Despite a few absentees from the men’s team, they got off to a strong start with George Hatton leading the team out with a great run in 14th position.

Next out was Will Tucker who showed his improvement and hard work by going quicker than the previous year. Strong runs by the middle of the pack put Newark 25th, with qualifying for the nationals still in the balance.

Last out was Ed Buck who, despite feeling the effects of the half marathon the previous week, ran effortlessly to bring the team home and record the eighth-fastest time of the day.

Newark finished in 15th place, their highest-ever finish at the Midlands event and guarantees a place in the national finals early next month.

First out for the women’s team was Trish Jackman, who marked her Newark debut with a brilliant first leg to post the ninth-fastest run of the day.

Cloe Hubbard had a solid run and was followed by Kim Etherington-Bates and Tilly Owens, who ran brilliantly to bring the team home in 29th, a superb performance and also earning them an invite to the National Relays.

The previous week saw the rearranged National Cross-Country from the flooding earlier in the year. It took place at Weston Park in Staffordshire with the conditions a lot warmer and drier than normal.

Alice Gibbs finished 51st in the junior women’s race with Tim Bagguley and Ady Diznfinisging in 266th and 291st respectively in the senior men’s category.