MORE than 10,000 athletes and spectators descended on Wollaton Park in Nottingham for the Saucony English National Cross Country Championships last weekend.

Halesowen AC’s Under-15s girls’ team, who were crowned West Midlands League Champions a fortnight ago, took the opportunity to test themselves against the rest of the UK, finishing tenth out of 37 teams.

The race was won by Sabrina Sinha from Cambridge Harriers in 15.10. Abigail Saker led the Halesowen girls’ team home in 71st place (17.19), followed in by Lily Higgins in 74th (17.21), Livvy Worth 129th (18.00), Katrina Simpson 149th (18.13) and Chloe Chapman 301st (20.53).

Jonathan Lewis raced in the Under-17 men’s team, placing 267th in a time of 26.48, while Isabel Hall ran in the Under-17 women’s race finishing 169th in 23.46.

In the senior men’s race, which saw a field of well over 1,500 runners, Stockport Harriers’ Steve Vernon took the tape in 36.23.

Halesowen were represented by Richard White 304th (42.35), Mark Hadley 493rd (45.01), Dave Turvey 649th (46.47), Phillip Scarr 1,017th (51.03), Alex Morgan 1,036th (51.23), James Atkins 1,186th (53.39), Richard Guest 1,378th (57.05) and Andrew Nock 1,384th (57.14). Bedford won the team competition with Halesowen men placing 68th out of 127.