NICOLA JAMES of Harborough AC defied injury to assist the England and Wales team to runners-up spot in the women's veteran 30 age group at the European Prisons 5km cross country championships in Madrid.
Two other members of the team, Sue Turner and Joanna Fifefield, contributed by finishing in fourth and sixth positions.
James picked up an injury a week before the Spanish international event and she only got the go-ahead to take part after under
going an intensive last-minute massage treatment.
James said she had to run with extra care, without stretching herself, and the move paid dividends as she finished 22nd overall and 15th in her age group, which was enough to help her team to second spot.
The Harborough runner was selected for the international competition late last year after finishing top at the National Prisons Sports Association cross-country championships.
On the domestic front Harborough’s Hollie Williams, who has just graduated into the senior ranks, joined forces with seasoned clubmates Sarah Haines and Hannah Eveleigh for a superb second in the women’s senior team in the North Midlands Cross Country League’s second fixture in Corby.
Williams was placed 16th in 23mins 22secs while Haines was seventh in 22.06, followed by Eveleigh in 22.38.
Karen Brooks finished 30th in 30.07, Lianne Brooks 75th in 30.24, Lynette Lewington 76th in 30.25 and Lin Farrow 84th in 32.06.
Sean Fenwick led the men’s senior team to finish 15th position.
He was the club’s top finisher in ninth position with 32.27, William Clapp 50th in 35.24, Adam Brooks 99th in 38.57, Richard Bufton 119th in 39.46, Steve Costall 115th in 39.57, Graeme Rolfe 123rd in 40.47, Shane Edge 124th in 40.59, Rick Brown 133rd in 42.10, Martin Hughes 135th in 42.20, Chris Loake 164th in 45.24, Mark Garrod 170th in 47.00, David Ward 173rd in 48.23 and Dave Oram 182nd in 55.02.
The men’s veteran side got the better of the senior men’s members by finishing eighth and currently lie ninth in the on-going cross country series.
At the same competition in Corby, the junior athletes taking part were Sarah Ward, who finished 20th in the under-17 girls in 20.59, Emily Taylor 25th in the under-15 girls in 14.11, Ewan Muircroft 10th in 8.32 and Martha Clapp 12th in 8.37.
The full article contains 421 words and appears in Harborough Mail newspaper.
