ATHLETICS: Gemma Phillips produced another outstanding run at the National Cross Country Championships, at Herrington Country Park, Sunderland, finishing ninth in a field of 297 in the senior ladies race.
The race was dominated by Liz Yelling, of Bedford, who finished in 28 minutes 56 seconds, followed 21 seconds later by sister-in-law Haley Yelling. Phillips was never far off the pace, climbing at one point to fifth, but the Kendal runner was stretched over the final stages to finish ninth in 30:39.
Team-mate Rebecca Robinson used her strength on the climbs to fight her way up to 16th, but the surge over the last mile into the strong winds were tough and she finished 21st in 31:41.
In the senior men's event Kendal's Joe Symonds was in the top 50 of the huge field of 916 runners. More at home in his fell shoes, Symonds' slim yet powerful frame seemed to relish the hills and the wind to finish the 12k course in 39:50 and 42nd overall. Team-mate Pete Ackland was 524th in 50:46. Local runner Rob Jebb also took to the country, finishing 80th.
Kieran Alderson, running for the first time in the under 20 age group and not yet used to longer distance, ran a storming first three quarters of the race, only losing places in the last half-mile, finishing 112th in 38.32, impressive for his first national event.
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