With less than two weeks to go until the trials for the Norwich Union GB & NI Team for the European Cross Country Championships a number of ‘On Camp with Kelly’ athletes have already been in cross country action this autumn.

Jess Coulson (Stockport Harriers) won the Under 20 race at the first UK Cross Challenge meeting of the season in Gateshead on Saturday 10 November. She pulled away from the field before the half way point to win the 4.5km race by 16 seconds in 16:10. Jordan Kinney finished in 18th place in 17:38. The Under 17 race was run together with the Under 20 race and Kerrie Harris (Hull Achilles) finished third in 17:17 behind Blue Haywood and Laura Weightman.

Alison Leonard (Blackburn Harriers) travelled to Tilburg in The Netherlands to compete in the annual Warandeloop EAA Permit meeting where she finished 13th in 17:07 in the 4.3km race.

A number of OCWK athletes turned out for their clubs in the Saucony National Cross Country Relays in Mansfield on Saturday 3 November.

In the Under 20 3x2.5km relay Emma Pallant ran the third quickest stage of the day with 18:18 on the last stage to bring Aldershot, Farnham and District home as champions. Rachel Stringer ran the first leg for the City of Norwich team that finished seventh and Jess Coulson’s fourth fastest stage of 8:24 helped Stockport Harriers to eighth place. Also in action were Suzi Boast for Bedford and County in 11th place and Jordan Kinney for Royal Sutton Coldfield in 12th place. After missing the whole of the summer season through injury Stephanie Roe continued her comeback by running the first leg for Preston Harriers although they did not field a complete team.

In the Under 17 3x2.5km race Kerrie Harris ran the fourth quickest leg of the day of 8:39 on the last leg for Hull Achilles, making up three places to take her team to fourth place overall.

Linzi Snow ran the second leg for Woodford Green with Essex Ladies in the Senior Women’s 3x3km event, making up over 30 places with a time of 10:15 and helping them to 15th place. Emma Jackson got her City of Stoke team off to a good start, finishing ninth on the first leg in 10:11 though the team dropped down to 24th place by the end.

Linzi Snow has also taken two second places for St Mary’s University in the London Colleges Cross Country League, at Richmond Park on 31 October and Parliament Hill on 17 October. The winner at Parliament Hill was fellow OCWK athlete Emma Pallant representing Brunel.

Emma and Linzi were back in action for their clubs just three days later in the senior women’s race at the Nike Four Stage Road Relays at Sutton Park in Birmingham on Saturday 20 October. Emma ran the first 4.3km leg in 14:51 for the victorious Aldershot team. Linzi also ran the first leg for the Woodford Green with Essex Ladies team that finished 14th, while Rachel Stringer brought home the City of Norwich team in 17th place. Jess Coulson ran an excellent second leg of 14:22 for Stockport Harriers, the 11th fastest leg of the day.


Click here to visit the gallery