LWAC - Reebok Margate

Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club (LWAC)
© LWAC 2000-2001 - last updated 21 November 2001

Reebok XC Challenge - Margate
18 November 2001

Lincoln Wellington junior Matt Bowser has been selected to run for Great Britain and Northern Ireland under 20s in the European cross country championships at Thun in Switzerland on December 9th. A storming run for 4th place at the latest Reebok International Challenge race at Margate, which was the official trial for the European Championships, was more than enough to give Bowser a well deserved opportunity. The Margate meeting was by a long way the classiest event of the winter so far with every race being hotly contested by the top names in British middle distance running together with a liberal selection of continental runners to add a little spice to the action. After a good start in a field of well over 100 athletes Bowser was always in the leading group. Although under maximum pressure throughout the final mile he kept going in determined style to secure 4th spot and do enough to receive the approval of the selectors for the national team. In the same race Tom Doe continued his return to top form with a strong run for 27th place. He was ahead of a number of big names and not too far behind the leading group and he should be in very good shape by the new year.

15 year old Rachael Nathan moved up an age group to contest the under 20 women's trial for Europe and ran a terrific race to finish a close up 9th in a field of over 160 finishers. She would probably have been even closer but for being hampered at the start and finding herself back around 35th place at the end of the long starting straight. She then cut through the field very rapidly to be a close 3rd for much of the race before her earlier effort took its toll and the chasing pack closed her down in the final stages. After a remarkable year this was easily the toughest task she has faced and she came out of the race with great credit.

Another very promising Wellington effort came from Josh Stone in the under 15 boy's race. He ran a fine tactical race and was making progress steadily throughout the latter stages to finish an excellent 22nd. With another year in the age group and continued improvement it is not difficult to see him as a serious contender next season. Jason Hall ran a similar race in the under 17 men's event and did very well to finish 30th in another top class contest. There were three Wellington athletes in the senior men's open race. Simon Bell was wearing his RAF vest on this occasion and ran strongly to finish in the middle of the field. Dean Houlton is in top form at present and ran another good race to be less than a minute further back in 81st position. And despite not feeling too well on the day Gary Johnson kept going well to complete the trio in 87th place.

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