Top day for athletes

TWENTY Burton athletes made the short trip to Allestree Park for the third North Midlands League cross country race.

- By GRAHAM LAMB

First to run was Feliks Manlove in the under-11 boys race over 1,500 metres. In a strong field he came home 35th and in the league rankings has moved to 22nd.

The under 13 girls saw Zola Signori and Irina Laird ready to face a tough 3km hilly lap. Signori got into a good rhythm and came home looking strong in 15th. Laird, in the first year of the age group, ran well for 21st.

In the under 15 girls’ race, Megan Cheetham faced her toughest course. She worked herself into second place. However, at the turn to the finish she was passed and entering the last uphill 150 metres, 10 metres down.

She picked up her pace, closed the gap and last 15 metres saw them side by side, a final push saw her get second by a few inches. Olivia Lee had won but she hadn't raced at Kettering and Cheetham has now opened a six-point lead at the top of the league.