Event: Cardiff University hosts BUCS Cross Country Championships
9 February 2012
Last weekend Cardiff University hosted the annual BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) Cross Country Championships at Blackweir fields. The course followed the same route as the recent UK Cross Challenge which proved to be a good test for the University level athletes. The weather wasn’t particularly favorable as the snow began to fall but the runners dug in and produced some outstanding performances and exciting finishes.
Hannah Walker (Birmingham) won a competitive women’s race, to secure her first BUCS individual gold medal. Walker (24:08) led home St Mary’s athletes Louise Small (silver) (24:14) and Leigh Lattimore (bronze) (24:19) to the individual title, on the 7.4 km course. St Mary’s pipped Birmingham to the team trophy (20 points to 22). Edinburgh (43 points) edged out Loughborough (45 points) for third place.
Over 340 women completed the course, with 99 teams scoring.
Hannah Walker commented after the race, "I wanted to take it on and lead from the front, it was a tough race with the ground hard and lumpy but it wasn't actually as bad as I thought it might be. This is my second BUCS Cross Country and it is a really great event. It has been a good day for Birmingham."
The Men’s Long Race (10.6 km) was won by Jonny Hay (30:02) of Birmingham outsprinting Sean Connolly (30:05) (Manchester). Ashley Harrell (30:10) was third and led his St Mary’s team mates to victory in the team race (26 points), from Birmingham (38 points) and Loughborough (147 points).
The strength of the field was demonstrated by two time and reigning World Sprint Triathlon Champion Jonathan Brownlee (Leeds) managing to secure 5th place as he had in 2011.
The Men’s B Race (8.1 km) was dominated by St Mary’s – their athletes filling the first 8 places, 9 out of the top 10 finishers and 4 out of the top 5 teams. Their gold and silver teams secured their places with the minimum number of points (10 and 26 respectively). Toby Loveridge (23:23) beat team mates Daniel Woodgate (23:27) and Rowan Axe (23:33) to the podium places. Only Birmingham (third place – 51 points) stopped a clean sweep for St Mary’s in the team race.
Jonny Hay commmented after the race that "My coach had told me to sit on the leader and do the business at the end. I was pushed hard all the way and managed to hold on to finish it off. Conditions were tough so I left it late to warm up so there was lass chance off being cold at the start. We are all in the same boat with conditions like this, I don't really mind the cold."
Over 1,000 athletes completed these 3 races on this cold, switch-back course, with snow continuing to fall all afternoon. Hard underfoot conditions and the flat course led to fast times being recorded. Congratulations to all those finishers.
Men’s Long Race
Individual
1 – Jonny Hay – Birmingham – 30:02
2 – Sean Connolly – Manchester – 30:05
3 – Ashley Harrell – St Mary’s – 30:10
Team
1 – St Mary’s – 26 pts (3, 4, 9, 10)
2 – Birmingham – 38 (1, 11, 12, 14)
3 – Loughborough – 147 (21, 29, 44, 53)
Women’s Long Race
Individual
1 – Hannah Walker – Birmingham – 24:08
2 – Louise Small – St Mary’s – 24:14
3 – Leigh Lattimore – St Mary’s – 24:19
Team
1 – St Mary’s – 20 pts (2, 3, 15)
2 – Birmingham – 22 (1, 8, 13)
3 – Edinburgh – 43 (5, 17, 21)
Men’s B Race
Individual
1 – Toby Loveridge – St Mary’s – 23:23
2 – Daniel Woodgate - St Mary’s – 23:27
3 – Rowan Axe - St Mary’s – 23:33
Team
1 – St Mary’s – 10 pts (1, 2, 3, 4)
2 – St Mary’s – 26 (5, 6, 7, 8)
3 – Birmingham – 51 (9, 11, 15, 16)