TAMAR Trotters’ Bex Ezra enjoyed an impressive run as the Westward Cross Country League finally made a return after a 19-month break.
Ezra was first senior women in the opening meeting of the series held at Plymouth’s Central Park on Sunday.
In glorious sunshine, she clocked 22.08 seconds for the deceptively hilly course and was 14 seconds ahead of the next senior woman, who was Exeter Harriers’ Nicole Edmunds.
The women’s race was run jointly with the under-17 men and women. England Schools’ internationals Maisy Luke (Cornwall AC) and Scarlett Livingstone (Exeter Harriers), competing in the under-17 age group came first and second females overall, but Ezra gave them a good run for their money and was only two seconds behind Livingstone.
Tavistock’s Jo Meek was fourth senior and first over-40, with 2008 Olympic pentathlon medallist Heather Fell also in the top 10 seniors and first over-35 for Tavistock.
Tavistock’s Charlotte Walker was fourth under-17 and 14th female overall, while City of Plymouth’s Martha Wilson was fifth under-17, with Erme Valley’s Lottie Humphrey seventh.
Tavistock produced a strong showing in the senior/under-17 women’s race. Jenny Jeeves and Caroline Stevens were first and second over-50s, while they had the first veterans’ team and came second senior team.
In the senior men’s race there was a good run from City of Plymouth’s first-year under-20 athlete Jacob Harrison. He came third overall behind second-year under-20 athletes Johnny Livingstone (Exeter Harriers) and Harley Norman (Exeter University).
Plymouth Harriers’ Johnny Gilby came ninth overall and first over-40, while Tamar Trotters Jacob Landers was 10th.
City of Plymouth’s Stephen Burns was first over-55, while Tavistock’s Richard Brage and Martin Exley-Deane were first and second over-60s.
Tavistock Run Project came third overall in the team event, with Tavistock second in the veterans’ team competition and Plymouth Harriers third.
Armada athletes were strong in the under-15 girls’ race, filling six of the top nine spots.
City of Plymouth’s Holly Reid was third overall behind Bideford’s Freya Woodhead and Exeter Harriers’ Isla Bryson.
Club colleague Molly Gilbey was fourth, with Erme Valley’s Bella May fifth and Plymouth’s Abbie Chapman just four seconds behind in sixth. Plymouth’s Phoebe Timson (8th) and Madeleine Jones (9th) also secured top 10 spots.
City of Plymouth’s dominance was so strong in that event that they claimed the top two team spots.
There was a top three finish for City of Plymouth’s Barnaby Hutchings in the under-13 boys’ race. He came behind Exeter Harriers’ William Birchall and Bodmin’s Lewis Trubridge.
In the under-13 girls’ event, Tavistock had three runners in the top nine as they claimed second in the team event. Claudia Jones was fifth, Lamorna Cox was eighth and Nell Maguire ninth. Erme Valley’s Isabella Trowell was 10th in the same race.
In the under-11 girls’ race, Tavistock’s Zoe Bigham claimed second place behind Exeter’s Ellie Birchall, with the appropriately named City of Plymouth’s Elsie Goodspeed third. There was also a top 10 finish for Erme Valley’s Isabelle Drew.
In the under-11 boys’ event, East Cornwall Harriers’ Eldon Young took fourth spot, with Tavistock’s Freddie Whybrow fifth, Erme Valley Harriers’ Thomas Carter sixth, City of Plymouth’s Isaac Bramall seventh and team-mate Lucas Sweeney 10th.
In the under-15 boys’ race there was a top 10 finish for Tavistock’s Noah Reid as he helped his team to first place, while in the under-17 boys’ event, Erme Valley Harriers’ Charlie Milward was sixth, with Tavistock’s Jacob Holland seventh.
Full results can be found HERE.
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Thank you for this wonderful write up! Well done to all.
Kind regards,
Bex