Lewes Athletic Club’s Tom Evans, along with several other leading Sussex runners, gave the Sussex Cross-country League event at Goodwood a miss last weekend to concentrate on the “Bright10” road race at Brighton on Sunday and he did it to good effect.
Evans, who is primarily a triathlete and James Westlake (Crawley) who is a footballer fought through the early stages of the race but Evans moved clear for a handsome victory in 51:46 to the Crawley runner’s 52:33 with David Wilson (Thames Hare and Hounds) in third place in 52:30.
Veterans Neil Boniface (Crawley) clocked 53:03 in fourth place While Kevin Rojas (Brighton & Hove) fill fifth place in 53:10 and Ian Leitch (Brighton Phoenix) sixth in 54:37.
Rachel Gifford from Worthing was the first woman home placing 31st in 60:36 while Izzy Coomber from Lewes, who had placed seventh in the women’s race at Goodwood, placed 34th in 61:29 and Emily Proto (Arena 80) 43rd in 62:11.
The Weekend:
In the past Sussex support for the South of England Cross Country Relay championships, at Wormwood Scrubs, has not been strong and I have not heard of any Sussex club making a major effort this season.
The leading athletes are more likely to look to the Great South Run at Portsmouth on Sunday but certainly we can be sure of Coaches from both Brighton & Hove and Horsham Blue Star heading to Lee Valley on Sunday for the annual “Tom Pink Relays” organised by the A.A.As of England.
Both clubs have entered teams of very young athletes in what usually proves to be a highly competitive and enjoyable day’s athletics.
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