Colchester Harriers’ emerging stars enjoyed a memorable day at the South of England Cross-Country Championships at Beckenham Park Place, with both Lyla Belshaw and Lizzie Wellsted crowned as Champions in their respective age groups.

Belshaw was first to run in the U15 race, coming home 11 seconds clear over the 4.5 kilometre course after having been in the leading group from that start.  Belshaw was followed home by Isla Widdowson, who finished in an excellent 27^th position with Lily Taylor (49^th) and Beatrice Sivyer (106^th) also gaining invaluable experience of competing at such a high level. 

Wellsted also ran a brilliant race, talking the U17 title by just a second in an uphill sprint finish from her St Albans rival, and so completing a remarkable double for the Essex based club. 

The two girls have had an exceptional start to 2023 both adding their South of England title to Essex County and Essex Schools Championships won earlier in the month.

Meanwhile Harriers’ senior runners maintained their lead in the North Essex and South Suffolk Cross Country League after sealing victory in the latest fixture at Wix.  Ram Osman won the men’s race and was well backed up by his teammates with Cameron Humphries (5^th), Dom King (7^th), Chris Sellens (10^th), Dan King (19^th), Paul Spowage (20^th), Tim Ballard (24^th) and Jake Darkins (26^th) completing the scoring team.  Cross-country stalwart Emma Burgess led the way for the women – finishing in third position with Tracy English (5^th), Ellie Cumner (8^th) and Lily Gilby (17^th) the other female scorers.

In the boys’ race Sean Eales (2^nd), Finley Greenleaf (4^th) and Jake Phillips (9^th) all figured in the top ten, with Alice Begg (4^th), Poppy Clark (15^th), Ella-Grace Simpson  (19^th) and Isabelle Bueggein (20^th) making the top 20 for the girls.