Quartet aim to back up ‘Southerns’ title
THEY have done it at the ‘Southerns’ but can Guernsey’s top women’s quartet bring back another gold on Saturday?
Three months have passed since they snatched victory at the Southern Area Road Relays and all four will return to chase another regional level accolade at the Hampshire Cross Country Championships this weekend.
Much will come down to who turns up to Fairthorne Manor on the day, though, within the title-challenging squads of Aldershot, Winchester and Southampton.
The Sarnians took a meagre seventh in 2018, given the absence of team ace Sarah Mercier and several others, but their one win and two runner-up spots in the three years prior provide a more accurate indication of their status.
Mercier has been in excellent form lately and will hopefully end the day up among other big names such as Aldershot’s defending champion Louise Small on the individual podium.
Louise Perrio has traditionally been second in command but this year’s race will allow Jenny James – fresh from her first-ever sub-30min. time on the classic ‘full course’ – and club champion Laura McCarthy room to showcase their improvement.
The men are also out hungry for a medal, coming off last year’s bronze, and the lack of any one individual title contender means that it will be a test of strength-in-depth this year.
Ryan Burling’s absence means that a host of university-based athletes will shoulder the squad’s hopes alongside club champion James Priest and several other notable senior athletes.
Of those, London-based Richard Kowenicki will make a rare appearance and Andrew Van Kints hopes to represent GAC one last time before heading off to Antarctica.
Southampton and Aldershot are the main challengers as always, while Jersey’s Elliott Dorey will be in contention for individual gold.
GAC endurance director Perrio’s senior-level duties double up with her contributions to a medal-contending veteran squad and she reflects on the great depth on show throughout.
‘There’s been good interest in this year’s event – we have a squad of just over 30 seniors going, a couple of whom were late additions after experiencing the delights of Les Norgiots,’ said Perrio.
‘Strength in depth is good – the women’s team is as tightly packed as I’ve known it and Sarah is clearly flying.
‘Choosing the scoring six from the men is also no mean feat and, alongside that, we have two decent veteran squads.’
A host of junior races complete the programme.
