TOM Russell claimed a superb hat-trick of victories to mark the 50th anniversary of the Mike Sully Trophy that was incorporated into the Bristol Milers’ Club Cross Country Championships.
The 23-year-old Bristol & West AC junior international from Stroud, in Gloucestershire, not only made it three wins in a row to repeat the feat of Rob Whalley from 2002-4 but also clocked his fastest time on the course.
“It was a good, solid run-out and to get my hat-trick in my fastest time was very pleasing,” said Russell, whose time of 11mins 59secs shaved eight seconds off his 2007 best. “It is a good benchmark to break twelve minutes.”
Russell’s victory is the third fastest winning time in the event behind course record holder Angus Maclean (11mins 40secs in 2006) and Whalley’s 11:41 in 2003 and 2004.
Fellow west runner Ben Tickner played his part in the race as he, along with Russell and South West cross country champion Kevin Heywood, forced the early pace over the five laps with the Bristol & West AC pair of Steve Mitchell and junior Richard Peters just behind.
Tickner had beaten Russell when they last met two weeks previously in the Gwent League at Bath University after which the Wells City Harrier clocked a 14mins 52secs for victory in his club’s Street 5k road race.
But on this occasion Tickner couldn’t break Russell’s resistance and on the last lap the defending champion made his move.
“It was very close until we turned up the hill on the last lap and I kicked in to open a gap,” added Russell. “I finished strongly and to be honest I felt better and better as the race went on.”
Tickner never gave up the chase to ensure a safe second spot while a fast-finishing Peters, who has struggled with injuries this year, stormed past Heywood in the finishing straight to clinch third.
British Milers’ Club Cross Country Championships, Bristol Downs - Senior men’s 4k inc the 50th Mike Sully Trophy: 1 Tom Russell (B&W) 11;59; 2 Ben Tickner (Wells) 12:03; 3 Richard Peters (B&W, U20) 12:09; 4 Kevin Heywood (Bide) 12:10; 5 Tom Doe (Lincoln W) 12:20; 6 Robbie Bugden (B&W) 12:24; 7 Simon Jones (Bel) 12;25; 8 Ieuan Thomas (Cwmbran) 12:26; 9 Stephen Davies (bel) 12:28; 10 Charlie Maclean (Taunton, U20) 12:29; 11 Tom Curr (Stroud, U20) 12:29; 12 James Thie (Cardiff) 12:30; 13 Ander Russell (Stroud) 12:31; 14 Martin Cox (Salford) 12:31; 15 Sam Sabler (OWLS, U20) 12:43; 16 Jon Wills (B&W) 12:44; 17 Owain Jones (WSE&H) 12:45; 18 Eliot Buckner (EVH, U20) 12:53; 19 Rob Galt (Stroud, U20) 12:55; 20 Oliver Heeks (Orion, U20) 12:56.
Under 17 men: 1 Tom Curr (Stroud) 9:03; 2 Tom Purnell (Stroud) 9:44; 3 Aaron Phelps (Stroud) 9:50; 4 Adam Sloane (Poole AC) 9:57; 5 Will Massey (WH) 10:08; 6 Simon Cooper 10:14.
Under 15 boys: 1 Hobie Martin (N&P) 9:57; 2 Luke Jacobs (B&W) 10:00; 3 Zak Tobias (B&W) 10:03; 4 Alex Carter (TBAC) 10:08; 5 Will Paulson (Stroud) 10:10; 6 Harri Coldray (Stroud) 10:14.
Under 13 boys: 1 Oscar Holdsworth (Truro School) 6:59; 2 Alfie Kilgour (TBAC) 7:19; 3 Mark Bailey (Mendip) 7:19; 4 Luke Prior (Wells) 7:19; 5 Felix Freeston (TBAC) 7:25; 6 Scott Jenkins (Weston) 7:33.
Under 11 boys: 1 William Norcross 4:23; 2 Michael Nicholson 4:28; 3 David Warnes (NSAC) 4:29; 4 Joseph Engledow 4:30; 5 Hugh Sadler 4:31; 6 Ewan Joyce 4:36.