WESTBURY Harriers’ young athletes Elizabeth Hutchings and Akira Bees both impressed in the opening fixture of the Gloucestershire Cross Country League, at Cirencester Park.
Hutchings raced to victory in the under 11 girls’ race while Bees finished fourth in a strong under 17 men’s event that saw a clean sweep from Team Bath AC.
In the older age groups Frederick Cooper placed sixth in the under 20s with Westbury clubmate Paul Gardiner fifth M40 and Clevedon AC’s Luke Murray fifth M45.
Bristol & West AC’s Jack Bancroft was eighth in a strong senior men’s race won by Western Tempo’s Dominic James.
Also interesting to see former England junior international Hannah Hobbs finish 15th overall in the senior women’s race in what appears to be – at least according to UK Athletics Power of 10 – her first race of the year.
Gloucestershire Cross Country League, Cirencester Park
Senior men: 8 Jack Bancroft (B&W); 31 Frederick Cooper (WH, U20 6th); 40 Paul Gardiner (WH, M40 5th); 44 Luke Murray (Clev, M45 5th). U17 men: 4 Akira Bees (WH).
Senior women: 15 Hannah Hobbs (WH). U11 girls: 1 Elizabeth Hutchings (WH).