England teams had a successful afternoon at the IAAF Antrim International Cross Country races which incorporated the Home Countries International.

There was two individual wins from the English athletes with both Jonathan Davies and Rebecca Murray scoring convincing wins in the Junior Men’s and Women’s events. Davies came home 20 seconds clear in a time of 22.15 in his race with teammate Joe Steward 2nd in 22.35 but then England had to wait until 16th before Matt Shirling finished in 23.41. Shirling coming back after injury ran solidly to close the team, fourth home for England was Jacob Allen in 18th spot with 23.46. This put England 2nd in the Team event behind the South. It was a 1, 2, 3 for England in the Junior Women’s race Rebecca Murray winning in 18.50, Jenny Nesbitt was next home in 19.05 and Elizabeth Mooney took the bronze with 19.25. Those performances easily won the Team event and Amelia Pettitt backed her teammates up with an 11th place with 19.49.

The Senior races incorporated an IAAF permit event with an array of African runners and it was Birtukan Fentealemu of Ethiopia who won the Senior Women’s race in 24.12. Second home came Steph Twell running in a GB vest with 24.28 while England’s first runner home was Louise Small who finished 8th with a time of 25.31. Imogen Ainsworth wearing an England vest for the first time finished very good 10th in 25.40. Sarah Astin was next with 12th in 25.44 and Juliet Potter was 13th with 25.48. Their performances gave them the HCI team win with 30 points and the Senior Men followed this up in the last race this time scoring 26 points. In a race won by Thomas Ayeko of Uganda with 31.27, Dean Lacey as the best placed England runner finishing 6th with 33.25, the ever realisable Darren Dead finished 10th, 21 seconds down while Alex Bruce-Littlewood placed 12th, 34.03 and Alex Tueten 13th, 34.07.

So after a mixed season with regards International events the England runners showed good end of season form.