Over 30 Croydon athletes in action at the Southern XC

Over thirty Croydon Harriers took part in the South of England cross-country championships at Beckenham on Saturday.

Sean Leahy would enjoy the club’s highest finish of the day, placing 35th in the Under 15 boy’s race, with teammate Ernesto Kelly just one place behind. The pair have been picked as reserves for the Surrey squad on the back of their strong showing. The scoring quartet was completed by Eliot Peacock (154th) and Lukas Barsauskas (159th) to ensure Croydon would finish 15th in the team race. 

There was a similarly positive turnout in the girls equivalent age group, with Aida Palomares-Dominguez leading home the squad in 92nd. Caroline Kennefick (156th) and twins Mary (175th) and Faustina Raki (177th) completed the scoring team to finish 18th overall.

Further top 100 finishes in the young athletes races came courtesy of Zoha Jetha (56th, Under 17 women), Holly Perks (64th, Under 20 women), Kyron-Bailee Burke (82nd, Under 17 men) and Douglas Aikman (86th, Under 20 men). In the Under 13 ranks Ellie Thomas (123rd) and Albie Dormer (140th) were the club’s leading finishers. 

Madeleine Armstrong-Plieth led the women’s charge finishing 106th and the 11-strong men’s contingent were spearheaded by Scott Miller (295th) where the team finished 40th. 

A further 30 Croydon Harriers took part in parkruns on Saturday with first place finishes courtesy of Luke Wakeling (Gunnersbury) and Julian Forbes (Sharpham).