Amelia Quirk and Logan Rees win at Leeds Cross Challenge – AW

All the news from Temple Newsam as the British Athletics Cross Challenge unfolded on Saturday

Twelve months ago Amelia Quirk was busy winning the British Universities Cross Country title in Leeds for Birmingham University. This weekend she returned to the city to take victory in the latest leg of the British Athletics Cross Challenge.

In the men’s race, Logan Rees took the win at an event which was supported by Sportsshoes and which incorporated a UK Home International and area match, together with the Celtic Challenge which meant teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Midland Counties, Northern Athletics and South of England all took on this challenging course.

Amelia Quirk beat fellow England team-mates Jess Gibbon and Mia Waldmann after a fine display. The multiple GB & NI international started conservatively, sitting in a large pack which was led by Scotland’s Scout Adkin for long stages, with Quirk and Gibbon also pushing the pace at the front. As the laps unfolded, the pack stayed together but Quirk eyed the long uphill section to the finish as the place where she would make her move when the time came.

With less than half a kilometre to go, Quirk pressed ahead on the uphill stretch, opening a gap on Gibbon to wheel away to a solid victory. Gibbon came through close behind for second, narrowly ahead of Waldmann while Adkin was just pipped on the line by the fast-finishing Sophie Tarver.

Quirk said: “I just felt good, and I think I am not always the best at executing races, but I did really well. There was probably about 10 or 15 times that I was telling myself ‘it is time to go, it is time to go!’ but I had to tell myself not to. Every time we reached the little hill at the bottom, I was moving through so easily, so I knew that was where I was going to make my move, but I had to wait until the last lap.”

Rees and James Kingston enjoyed a battle in the senior men’s race, but it was the Scottish athlete who showed his power to take one of the best wins of his career to date.

Logan Rees (Graham Smith)

Rees and Kingston were locked for long stages of the course with Jack Millar sticking with them for the majority before the duo broke away on the last loop and a half.

Rees – who was the second Cross Challenge finisher in Cardiff in November – looked determined throughout, but it was Kingston who headed the field as they entered the final circuit. With distance running down, Rees made a staggering sprint for the line up the final hill, streaking away to seal an impressive victory ahead of Kingston, with Millar holding on for third ahead of England’s Cameron Allen.

Rees said: “I was pretty content sitting with the big group and waited until it broke up a bit, so I went as late as I could, and I managed to hold on. I have not had a good race outside of Scotland this winter, so it was good to get one here.

“I am a mountain runner by trade in my youth, so I was well suited to the course today. Every year of training, the endurance is building, and it is all coming together.”

Eliza Nicholson (Graham Smith)

In the under-20 women’s race Eliza Nicholson broke away from Isobel Holt halfway through the last lap to win. Zara Redmond came through strongly for second with Lucy Wilkinson third and Holt fourth.

Quinn Miell-Ingram led an all-England podium in the under-20 men’s race. The Radley athlete was in contention for much of the race. Such was the nature of the contest, it took until the final lap for the field to eventually be strung out.

Quinn Miel-Ingram (Graham Smith)

Jake Stevens made the first big move with 2km to go as he dictated the pace on the top end of the course with Miell-Ingram and Matthew Pickering keeping themselves attached to their team-mate as the final stages played out. As the course turned left back uphill for the final run-in, Miell Ingram had the strength to power away from his England compatriots to take the Cross Challenge and Home International victory.

Pickering held off Stevens in second with another England athlete, Liam Conway in fourth.

Freya Renton (Graham Smith)

Ireland’s Freya Renton secured a fine victory in the under-17 women’s race to seal the Celtic Cup. Ellarose Whitworth was the first Cross Challenge scorer as she came through in second place with Isla McGowan third.

Matthew Clark (Graham Smith)

It was an England clean sweep in the under-17 men’s race with a strong kick from Matthew Clark earning the win ahead of Luke Dunham and Myles Fraser.

Kara Gorman (Graham Smith)

Kara Gorman contined her great Cross Challenge form with win No.3 of the series. She was dominant in the under-15 girls race, winning comfortably ahead of Beth Lewis and Heidi Woodley.

In a thrilling sprint finish, Ewan Withnall held off the challenge of Osian Parry to seal Cross Challenge win No.3 of the season. Withnall – winner in Cardiff and Liverpool – fought up the steep finish and, despite the Welshman’s best efforts, the Burton athlete held on the extend his lead in the Series. Further back, Oscar Purchase took third.

Ewan Withnall (Graham Smith)

Madison Kindler and Thomas Hastings took the wins in the under-13 races.

Full results here.

Thanks to UKA for info.

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