Kent AC's John Gilbert proves uncatchable as he secures hat-trick of titles at the Kent Cross-Country Championships
Battle commences in the senior men's race at
the 2013 Kent Cross-Country Championships. Picture: Martin Apps
by Alan Newman
John Gilbert of Kent AC was the only defending champion to
retain a title at the Kent Cross-Country Championships at the
County Showground, Detling on Saturday.
Gilbert, right, clinched a third successive senior
men's crown with a 1min06sec win second win over Blackheath
& Bromley's Andy Rayner. Michael Coleman, of Medway and
Maidstone, was third. Tonbridge AC's junior champion from last
year, Keiran Reilly, finished fourth.
Tonbridge won the team and the 12-to-score Duodec trophies.
The senior women's title went to Elaine Murty of Blackheath and
Bromley, although not before an impressive effort from last year's
junior winner, Emily Hosker-Thornhill.
Thornhill took an immediate lead before withdrawing with illness
while Claire Elms, of Dulwich, took second and, at 49, became
the oldest-ever athlete to win an individual county medal. Maria
Heslop of Paddock Wood was third.
Blackheath took the main team honours with Medway and Maidstone
taking the six-to-score prize.
In the young athletes boys' events there were wins for Noah
Armitage Hookes (Cambridge Harriers, under-13s), Chris Cohen
(Tonbridge, under-15), Corey De’ath (Tonbridge, under-17) and Adam
Gilbert (Medway and Maidstone, under-20).
In the girls' events Holly Page (Dartford Harriers, under-13),
Sabrinha Sinha (Cambridge Harriers, under-15), Amy Old (Invicta,
under-17) and Nicola Wilkinson (Tonbridge, under-20), took the
honours.
08/01/13
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