THOMAS BUTLER who last won the Metropolitan league race at Horsenden Hill on the 15th of November and was fifth at Wormwood Scrubs on the 6th of December, made no mistake at Welwyn, on the hilly course with stretches of mud and, in the last mile he went away from Luca Minale, who had challenged him several times IN the early parts of the course, Alastair Aitken reports. Again, Chris Finill was the first M65 in 221 and the oldest in the race was Stuart Mann (M80) who came in 357 of the 359 finishers. The winning Men’s team was Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets but still Highgate Harriers hope for their 14th consecutive overall victory at Trent Park, after the final league race of the season on the 7th of February, which may not be helped by the fact the Cross Challenge will be held on the same day at Parliament Hill Fields.
Dina Aleksandrova, who came from Russia and joined Serpentine RC last year and, ran the London in 2025 in 2:31.41 was as equally impressive winner as Thomas Butler, going away in the last part of the women’s race from Molly Bryan. Carina Graham who was 8th was easily the first W55 and Jane Wright was the oldest as aa W65 at 167 of the170 finishers. On the day Highgate won the team race but it would likely be Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets who look like heading fot the league title, unless London Heathside do something extra like they have in the past.
In the younger age groups, certainly Jorjia March, who was 2nd in the English schools 1500 and has won all her Met League races for 4 years now was easily the first Under 17.