The Herne Hill Harriers “SAS” men have been crowned national relay champions after a sterling performance last weekend.

Jaden Kennedy, and brother Jacob and Ben Harrison were triumphant at the National Road Relay Championships held in Sutton Coldfield.

The club had teams in all age groups, apart from the U17s, but it was the three-man strong U13s teams that took the honours.

Ben Harrison led off with an excellent first leg, covering the 3.8km opening leg in 13 minutes 50 seconds, handing over to Kennedy in 11th spot.

Kennedy stormed to the front to the front and opened up a 30m lead by clocking the fastest leg of the day of 13:02.

Jacob Harrison ran the final leg in 13:22 – the third fastest of the day – to bring the team home.

Coach James McDonald said: “My new superstar Jaden Kennedy won the fastest leg for the second time in three weeks having done the same at the South of England Road Relays in Bedford when the team won bronze.

“He, Ben and Jacob are my SAS men.”

The club’s medal trail did not end there however, with the U17s girls’ team of Eimear Grifffin, Ella Newton and Alex Brown claiming bronze.

Their U17s’ B team compatriots, featuring Katie Balme and Olivia Stillman and Zoe Tompkins, finished fifth overall.

Harriers’ next highest finishers were the U13 girls’ team of Eva Holland, Maisie Collis and Layla Wilkinson, who placed seventh.

In the remaining races, Herne Hill’s U15 girls placed 20th and the senior women came home in 27th – the highlight being Chloe Tighe, who ran stride for stride with internationals and national medalists to place sixth on first leg and 15th fastest overall.

The U15 boys’ team finished 37th and the senior men came home in 67th.

Club coach Geoff Jerwood said: “Herne Hill Harriers continue to be one of the powerhouses in terms of young athletes’ distance running and long may that continue.

“As always, a massive thank you to our team managers, coaches and officials who give up so much of their free time to support our great club.”