Odd socks and bare feet at Wormwood Scrubs - Met League cross country Race 2

It is great to see our young athletes (and their sharp elbows) once again step up to the front row of the senior starting line with the best that the Met League has to offer.

Charlotte Harris started off really strong, mixing it at the pointy end of the women’s race through the wooded part of the course but sadly had to pull up at the end of the first lap. Giving everything and not feeling 100% it was safer to err on the side of caution. Emma McCluskey (position 31, time 29:37) picked up the mantle with a great run (resplendent in Barnet themed long socks!).  Getting caught between groups she had plenty of room to stretch her legs and came home in 31st place.  This was a significant move up the field from her 62nd place finish at Claybury.

Kath March (70, 32:17) and Jo Kent (88, 33:13), two of the trio of ladies (including Karen Murphy) who have led us home in the Met League over recent years, continued to perform coming home as second and third Barnet women.

Our full women’s compliment was made up by: Jana (110, 34:22 - looking like a good return to form), Sarah M (121, 34:53) , Florence (123, 34:57), Kathryn (E 184, 40:22), Ann P (185, 40:40), Mandy (194, 41:32), Geraldine (195, 41:55), Mary (206, 44:03) and Jenny (218, 47:03).

Similar to the women’s race our men were led home by the youngsters: Joe Ward (147, 27:07), Noah Clarke (149, 27:08) and Callum Sydenham (188, 28:10).  Joe and Noah pushed each other to end coming home within 2 seconds of each other with Joe pipping it this time.  It was great to watch the duo fight so hard to the end but also for the full trio to push each other from start to finish.

The Met League is made up of the best runners in the capital and next stop for these young men surely must be top 100 finishes, onwards and upwards.

Stalwarts (can I say that? too late now!) of the Met League make up the rest of our men’s team: Calvin(238, 29:24), Philip 243, 29:39), Alex (293, 30:36), Kevin (309, 31:37), Rob S (313, 31:43), Kelvin (339, 32:28), Michael M (357, 32:58), Grahame D (369, 33:26), Pete (396, 35:08), Chris V (403, 35:48), Nico (404, 35:51), Jerry (415, 36:54), Dave B (424, 38:22).

It was great to spend the day with fellow athletes, coaches, team managers and supporters.  The sun shone, the cakes were delicious and the cheers were mighty.

Oh, and Michael went barefoot for the first time this season!