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Clorley and Wilkinson triumph in Cross Country Championships
Two University of Birmingham students walked away with first place medals in the North of England and South of England Cross Country Championships held last month.James Wilkinson, who is currently studying Sports and Exercise Science, was untroubled winning the junior race at the North of England Cross Country Championships held at Witton Park, Blackburn, on Saturday, January 23.
Wilkinson finished the 8km course a full 21 seconds ahead of current Yorkshire Champ Andrew Hayes, by biding his time before pulling away to cross the finish line in 27 minutes 31 seconds, Karl Billington (winner of the Lancashire Championship on the same course two days previously) finished in third place a further 4 seconds back.
It was a highly successful day for the University of Birmingham, with four athletes finishing in the top ten. Carl Smith crossing the line in fourth place followed by Daniel Cliffe and Matthew Jackson in sixth and 10th place respectively,
In the women’s junior race Lara Thomas, a first year Physiotherapy student and Rochele Harrison who is studying Economics helped their team, Lincoln Wellington, to win Silver medals finishing in eighth and 14th place respectively.
Alison Leonard, a second year Biology student, crossed the line in ninth place in her first cross country race of the year, a notable achievement for the track runner.
The following weekend, on January 30, fresher Daniel Clorley won the South of England equivalent held at Parliament Hill, London.
The 19 year old Business Management student finished the 8km race in 27 minutes 17 seconds, helping his team to take home the Silver medal.
Recent Sports Science graduate, Jon Pepper, finished a solid second place in the senior men’s race and in the junior women’s race, Becky Gough, a 2nd year Sports and Materials student, finished a respectable 8th place.
A good start to the year for Birmingham Athletes. Athletics coach Mike Bull said ‘It's great to see that everyone has kept up a high level of fitness despite the bad weather in the last couple of months.
He continued ‘We are now looking forward to competing as a team at the upcoming BUCS competitions, starting with the Cross Country in Stirling this weekend, where everyone has a part to play and can contribute to what I hope will be a very enjoyable weekend!’
In further athletes’ news, Biochemistry graduate Hannah England took the Women’s Mile in the 103rd Millrose Indoor Games, held at Madison Square Garden, New York on Saturday, January 30.
England finished in 4.31.48 over Sara Hall (4.31.50), running a perfect strategy in her first time on this track to hold of the fast-closing Hall.
Earlier last month, South of England Senior Indoor titles were won by Ed Aston (800m) and Daniel Clorley (1500m), and Alison Leonard took the North of England Senior Indoor title for the 1500m with the new Championship Best Performance time of 4.26.22.
