Gerrard and Steel add Inter Counties to National Titles
Posted By Joe on March 13, 2012
Photo: Bryan Mills
It was a case of deja vu at the Inter Counties Cross Country championships this weekend as both Keith Gerrard and Gemma Steel took advantage of the sunny conditions to repeat their victories from the National Cross Country two weeks ago. Whilst Gerrard’s main rivals from that race were not in attendance at Cofton Park, Steel had another head to head battle with National runner-up Steph Twell.
Senior Men:
Keith Gerrard won his first Inter Counties title two weeks after dominating the National Cross Country to reinforce his status as the Britain’s top cross country runner this spring. In the absence of Steve Vernon, John Beattie and James Wilkinson, who had finished behind him at the National, Gerrard started as firm favourite. After settling into a lead pack comprising Dewi Griffiths, Phil Wicks, Jonathan Taylor, Ricky Stevenson and World Triathlon silver medalist Jonathan Brownlee, it took until the second lap for Gerrard to start to impose himself on the race.
As he began to move away from the chasing pack, chased by Stevenson, it became clear that Gerrard wa the class of the field. He pulled away throughout the rest of the race, leaving Stevenson to battle it out with Wicks for the minor placings, whilst Brownlee fell away in the latter stages. Gerrard took the title in 34.57, finishing almost 10 seconds clear of Stevenson (35.06), who held off the challenge of Wicks (35.11) to take the silver medal.
“I’m made up. It’s reinforced that I’m in great shape,” Gerrard told uka.org, “It was a tough up and down course, but cross country is my favourite and I’m growing to love the track more too. I’m looking forward to heading to the states in April to work on that ahead of the summer.”
The North East, led by Stevenson and Taylor in 2nd and 4th, took the team title from Surrey and Middlesex.
Senior Women:
Gemma Steel enjoyed the second head to head battle between herself and Steph Twell in the space of two weeks, and again it was Chardwood AC athlete Steel who came out on top, as she has done so often this season. Steel began to push the pace right from the gun, tracked closely by Twell, the winner of this event back in 2009, and Hannah Doran. A group containing Naomi Taschimowitz, Louise Small and Caryl Jones folllowed not far behind.
As Hannah Doran began to drop off the pace, it became a two horse race between Twell and Steel, with Steel piling on the pressure and Twell doggedly sitting just behind. Coming into the final kilometre, steel upped the pace again, and this time Twell was unable to match her Leicestershire rival. Steel came away to win the race in 26.48, with Twell (27.03) well beaten into second place in the end. Hannah Doran managed to stay clear of Naomi Taschimowitz to take the bronze medal.
“It’s a dream come true to take the National title and then the Inter Counties,” Steel told uka.org, “I like to take the race out from the start; that’s my strength. By the last hill on the final lap I knew I could take it. I’m looking forward to some warm weather training at the end of March for the summer ahead.”
Hampshire, led by Twell, won the Women’s team title from Scotland East and Yorkshire.
Age Group Races:
Emelia Groecka maintained her dominance over the country this winter by taking the Under-20 Women’s title ahead of Annabel Gummow and Rhona Auckland, whilst Zak Seddon beat Ian Bailey and Kieren Clements to the Under-20 Men’s title. Jonathan Davies took the Under-17 Men’s title from Scott Halstead and Michael Callegari, and the Under-17 Women’s title was won by Jessica Judd ahead of Alex Clay and Rebecca Murray.
The Under-15 Boys title went to Euan Gilham, who beat out Patrick Dever and Jac Hopkins, whilst Bobby Clay went one better than big sister Alex to win the Under-15 Girls title from Annabel mason and Lucy Holt. The Under-13 Boys title was won by Markhim Lonsdale, who outran Canaan Solomon and Jack Boswell, and Sabrinha Sinha beat Grace Goddard and Jodie Judd to the Under-13 Girls title.
Full results can be found here.
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