Bourne-based Nene Valley Harrier Alex Hampson stormed to victory at the Southern Cross Country Championships in London.
Hampson was one of a number of Harriers in action at the rescheduled Parliament Hill event – but his win in the under-15 category was the most eye-catching showing.
The talented teenage took up the lead early in the race and never looked back, challenging the other competitors to catch him if they could.
As the raced progressed, Hampson became more confident – and with the finish in sight, he was able hold off a late challenge to win his first major title, a great reward for all the work he has put over this winter.
Nene Valley also managed an impressive eighth overall out of 23 teams in the under-15 boys’ category, with Hampson’s heroics backed up by Cameron Marshall an excellent 86th and Damian Rutterford just behind in 88th.
Austin Herbert was 119th, with Dan Corrigan 114th and Ollie Bowling 170th.
Another top performance came from under-13 Bradley Allan.
He put in one of his best runs of the season to place 53rd, ahead of team mates Keilin Spurdens (122nd), Ollie Oakley (124th) and Charlie Bamford (155th).
Under-20 ace Lloyd Kempson continued his good winter too, finishing well in 48th.
Fellow Harrier Ross Huskisson was 73rd in the same group.
Amy Gibbons ran well for her 79th in the under-17 girls’ race, as did Elisha Reid (118th) and Hannah Randall (163rd) in the under-15 girls’ event.
Jasmine Allen represented the club in the under-13s, finishing 173rd, while Charlotte Harris was an excellent 53rd in the under-20s .
In the seniors, Josh Lunn raced well in the tough conditions for his 62nd.
Not too far behind was top veteran Micheal Moore in 78th, while Nigel Dickens agin met the challenge of Parliament Hill to finish 454th.
In the ladies’, Carrie Murphy did well in her first Southerns, finishing 173rd .