ATHLETICS: Bronze medal for Oxon duo (From Oxford Mail)

ATHLETICS: Bronze medal for Oxon duo

11:00am Thursday 8th November 2012 in Athletics By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

Oxford City’s Melissa Hawtin and Radley’s Gemma Bridge helped Birmingham University to third place in a national cross country event.

Teaming up with Pippa Woolven, the pair won junior women’s bronze in in the English Cross Country Association (ECCA) National Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield.

Bridge took Birmingham into third on leg two, clocking 9mins 11.05 secs for the 2.5km course.

Hawtin then recorded 8.58.15 to secure bronze.

Gold and silver went to Aldershot Farnham & District’s A and B teams!

Steve Naylor enjoyed an impressive debut in the senior men’s race at Berry Hill Park.

The 33-year-old, from Woodstock, clocked the 15th fastest split of the day as he helped his first-claim club Bedford & County finish seventh.

Naylor completed the 5km course in 15mins 37.55secs, clawing back 28 places for his club on leg two.

He said: “I think that may go down as one of my best performances to date.

“It even put me ahead of Olympic 5,000m runner Nick McCormick and GB international James Walsh.

“I laughed in shock when I found that out. I couldn’t believe it.”

Steve Vernon (Stockport) recorded the quickest time of the day with 15.17.55.

Abingdon Amblers’ under 15 girls finished 52nd in their race.

Their team of Fiona Bunn, Juliette Well-Gray and Vicky Tilling recorded a combined time of 25mins 18.90secs for the three 2km legs.

OTHER RESULTS MARLOW HALF MARATHON Kidlington: 570 N Holford (LV40) 2.05.24.

SHEPSTED 7 Didcot Runners: J Dowling (V55) 56.01 BROADWAY TOWER MULTI TERRAIN MARATHON Didcot Runners: P Griffiths (V45) 5.17.00.