National Cross Country and Weekend Half Marathon Results 26-27 February 2022
The pinnacle of the cross country season, the ‘Nationals’, was held on London’s iconic Parliament Hill on 26th February in sunny, but very muddy conditions.
The race is known for drawing in large fields and in the women’s race there were 1010 finishes and in the men’s race there were almost 2100 finishers.
In the women’s race Serpentine had 14 hardy runners take on the 8km hilly course.
The women’s team of 4 to count came 24th (Natasha Sheel 90th, Vic Crawford 167th, Megan Hunt 207th and Jo Burkett 392nd) and will take pride in finishing close behind other strong London clubs Thames Valley Harriers (18th team) and Highgate Harriers (21st team).
In the men’s race we had a good turn out of 37 runners complete the 12.3km course in what can be described as challenging muddy conditions after several thousand pairs of feet had already been around the course. Our men’s team of 6 to count placed 18th with 1392 points (Andy Greenleaf 152nd, Jon Poole 204th, Andrea Fraquelli 206th, Glenn Hughes 248th, Nicolas Besson 289th and Jens Sudmeier 293rd) and were just behind other strong London clubs Thames Hare & Hounds (1086 points) and London Heathside (1118 points), but were ahead of Belgrave Harriers, Woodford Green, and Victoria Park Harriers.
Serpentine runners also produced strong performances in weekend half marathons:
- At the Wokingham Half Marathon Nick Torry ran well to come home 3rd in 1hr 07.23min, and Kevin Murray came in 2nd V60 in 1hr 21.42min.
- At the Windsor Lakeside Half Marathon Sophie Anne Flanagan was the First Lady home and 12th overall in 1hr 29. 53min.
Photo: Some of the Serpentine Ladies post-race at the National XC.
Write up by Glenn Hughes
Submitted: 27 February 2022