Rowe moves through the gears to seal win
ALEX ROWE joined forces with the bitter headwind sweeping the L’Ancresse coastline to blow away the competition in the annual Boxing Day Cross-Country.
The 20-year-old had spent much of the 4.75-mile ‘Full Course’ race as part of a trio of middle-distance runners working together to tame the persistent blusters that buffeted the large field.
After cruising along the relatively benign first mile from Rocque Balan, Rowe had entered the long and windswept coastal section with Sam Lesley and Dan Galpin proving his most immediate company.
The group cohesion got them through to Mont Cuet at a solid clip and clear of several endurance-focussed chasers, but shortly after hitting the three-mile point there, a still-fresh Rowe shifted up into a new gear.
Rowe stormed through the long run for home to clinch his first ‘Full Course’ crown in 27min. 28sec. – a very respectable effort in such conditions.
Lesley claimed second place 22sec. back and a similar distance split him from Galpin in third as past Guernsey Marathon winner Peter Amy took fourth.
Meanwhile, Development triathlete Nicole Petit made short work of the opposition in the women’s race.
Petit had been in the clear from early on and pushed on to a 34-17 time, comfortably topping the podium from established runners Mel Nicolle and Vanessa Rodrigues.
More to follow.
