NORTH EASTERN COUNTIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 115th ANNUAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Women’s race: A depleted JJs team made the journey to Sedgefield for the NE XC championships with the women this time going off after the men’s race. With the cold winter rain coming down, the women set off up the first slope away from the start. Molly Pace, living up to her name, set off at a good pace to battle with the leaders. Molly pushed round the undulating course in a great time off 32:07, just under two minutes behind the winner. This is a selection race for the Inter Counties XC championships and hopefully Molly has put herself in the frame for selection for the North East Counties Team, a first for a JJ. Laura was next home with Kate and Beth having a great battle round the course. Sophie was 5th JJ home with Emma Curtis making her club XC having a great race. The team finished 9th place out 23 with a smaller field than the NEHL of 168 finishers. Great running ladies, keeping the JJs on the North East XC map.
Men’s race: Eleven JJ men took the line. A race being only interrupted for World Wars and now pandemics, it was good to be back racing these historic championships. The weather was cold, wet and windy for an undulating course. Ali Maxwell continued his amazing form to again be first JJ home closely followed by Joe Cherry. Both runners got inside the top 50, which was a great effort. With Jonny, Joe Innes, Tom and Jake Archer making the scoring six to finish the team in 11th place out of 27 teams, many who would have been racing in these championships 100 years ago. A great effort from all the JJs in tough conditions with a smaller male field of 286 compared with the NEHL.