There were some outstanding performances from Basildon, Southend and Thurrock athletes when the Essex Young Athletes Cross Country Championships were staged in cold conditions at Basildon's Gloucester Park.
Megan Casey (left) - on her way to overall 19th for Southend, who were fourth-best team, in the girls' under-13 race
For the boys, Southend had their expected spectacular team success in the under-17 event and were third in the under-15s.
Basildon had two silvers and a bronze on the male side, but saved their biggest team triumph for the girls' competition where they were the under-15 champions.
The only individual local winner was Thurrock Harrier Andrew Livingstone, who took the under-17 honours in a time of 23mins 43secs -- just four seconds clear of Southend AC's Mark Bailey after a terrific tussle.
Bailey's Southend colleague Adam Bailey, already suffering a hand injury following a biking accident that restricted his training, suffered a fall and had to settle for third individual spot.
A host of top athletes from the day will now be selected to represent Essex when the inter-counties championships take place in March in Nottingham.
Published Thursday January 8, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article