Five Manx athletes representing Lancashire delivered determined performances at the Inter‑Counties Cross‑Country Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham.
The dry, fast course featured several demanding climbs, and the standard was exceptionally high with competitors from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In the U20 men’s race, Lucas Stennett ran strongly throughout the 8km to finish 122nd in a field of nearly 200, cheered on by friend Sam Perry, who travelled from Loughborough University to support him.
Inter-Counties Cross Country
There was a standout run from Eve Martin, who placed 53rd in the U13 girls’ 3km, an improvement of 20 places on last year. With her training now focused more on speed, the result marks an encouraging step ahead of the track season.
Sienna Morrissey produced another composed performance in the U17 women’s 5km, finishing 182nd in a much deeper field than at the National two weeks earlier. Making her Lancashire debut, she handled the occasion impressively.
The U13 boys’ race saw county debuts for Rory Teare and Leighton Curphey, who both recovered well after being boxed in early on.
Despite carrying a knee issue, Rory battled to 93rd, with Leighton close behind in 152nd, a remarkable statistic given they were separated by just 22 seconds in a field of more than 300.
All five athletes gained valuable experience from competing at such a high level and can take pride in their performances.