Youngsters impress over cross-country

Members of West Norfolk AC shone as the popular Shouldham Cross-Country series, hosted by Ryston Runners, returned on Sunday.Starting with the under-9s 800m race, new member Leo Kinsey timed 3min8sec to finish third on his club debut.Jess Watts (3.13) and Lauren Lawrence (3.28) placed first and second in the girls’ category – the highest the pair have finished at Shouldham.William Ward (3.15) came fifth with a personal-best time and Abe Gosnell (4.08) also recorded a new best.In the under-11s’ 2k race, James Watts (7.45) took first in a personal-best time.Another new member making an impressive debut was Dana Bishop (10.54).Casey Ward (13.12) claimed third in the 3k under-13 girls’ race as Olivia Ord (13.31) marked her West Norfolk AC debut with a win, placing first in the under-15 girls’ event, coming back from injury.Jessica Lawrence (14.57) came third in the under-15 girls’ race. The club dominated in the under-15 boys’ race where Ethan Ward (10.12) and Thomas Murray (10.23) placed first and second, respectively. The seniors and under-17s ran together in the 5k event as Henry Gosnell (18.39) was first home for the club.Gosnell made the step up, running in the under-17 category with the seniors for the first time and finished 17th overall.Next home for the club was Martin Sheldrick (18.45), who claimed third in the Masters men’s 50-54 age category.Darren Easter (19.33), Digby Frammingham (19.38) and Adam Howard (19.46) placed 27th, 28th and 29th, respectively. Frammingham (Masters 60-64) and Howard (Masters 45-49) finished third in their respective age categories, too. Megan Miller (20.05) crossed the line next for the club, claiming first place in the senior women’s category, and Hanley Angell (20.14) placed 36th overall.Evie Clayton (21.29) also made the step up for the first time running with the seniors in the under-17s category, just missing out on a medal. Other times: Rob Gosnell 22.11, Benjamin Collison 22.33, Julie Ward 23.45, Kelly Watts 25.43, Kerrie Page 26.38.West Norfolk AC also had runners taking part in the Great Eastern Run on the same day.Phil Kitney clocked 1:29.25 to be the club’s first finisher while Katrina Wasteney ran a new personal-best time of 1:41.52, shaving five minutes off her previous best.West Norfolk AC’s Susi Rogers-Hartley won the wheelchair race in 2:35.35 as she was involved in her maiden half-marathon event.