Lachlan continues fine run of major medals

IT WAS another dramatic day for Lachlan Wellington as he picked up the silver medal in the National Cross Country at Parliament Hill.
Lachlan Wellington, 2166, competing for City of Portsmouth in the nationals. Picture: Paul SmithLachlan Wellington, 2166, competing for City of Portsmouth in the nationals. Picture: Paul Smith
Lachlan Wellington, 2166, competing for City of Portsmouth in the nationals. Picture: Paul Smith

The City of Portsmouth racer has shown remarkable consistency over the past three years.

He has 14 successive major championship cross country podium positions.

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So far the national title has eluded him and it did again by just the narrowest margin possible on Saturday.

Shaftesbury Barnet’s David Stone had the race of his life to take the title in a time of 19min 29sec.

Wellington was second in 19.30 with Thomas Keen, who had just edged Wellington to grab the southern title earlier this season, finishing third in 19.37.

Overall it is an outstanding record for Wellington, 16, who has this winter represented Great Britain at under-20 level.

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Now he has now been called up for English Schools to race at the World Championships in Paris in April.

Coach Vince Stamp revealed securing a major gold medal will be the next big mission as well.

He said: ‘Lachlan had another very good run on the big stage and he was so disappointed not to win the title.

‘Lachlan beat the southern champion, the midlands champion and the northern champion as well as England international Zak Mahamed but the guy who was fifth in the southern champs had the race of his life to take the title. The time given was a second difference but it was really tight.

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‘It’s been a good winter for Lachie and he really wants that major title.

‘We’ll keep working hard in training and that will be his focus for the weeks ahead.

‘His season has now been extended with a call-up to represent England at the FSI World Championships in Paris this Easter.’

Unfortunately Jacob O’Hara was ruled out of the race with a foot injury which meant City were really out of the reckoning for the team medals.

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But they put on a brave and determined performance to finish 10th out of 36 teams. Steven Cross had a brilliant run to finish 108th out of 356 runners (22.15), Adam Kimber was 127th (22.32) and Callum Crook was 140th (22.42) to close the team.

Oliver Purser finished 181st in 23.15 and Daniel Cripps was 236th (24.21).

Josh Goldfinch crossed the line in 248th (24.30) as he battled on to finish with only one spike on, while Harrison Lee was 311th in 26.60.

City under-13 boys had a great team showing to finish 15th out of 56 teams.

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They were strong with Cameron Walker-Powell finishing 73rd out of 507 (12.44), Eddy Purser 133rd (13.07), William Campbell 190th (13.20) and Samuel Colbourne 195th (13.26).

Jenson Howard ran well as City’s only representative in the under-15 boys’ race setting a time of 20.19 to finish 436th.