More than 30 Croydon Harriers took on England’s best at the English national cross-country championships at Parliament Hill on Saturday.

A club record turnout at this event of 36 athletes tackled the quagmire-like course throughout the day.

As has been the way this season, 18-year-old Stevie Lawrence enjoyed the club’s highest individual finish in her fourth National, clocking 27 minutes 14 seconds to finish 57th in the junior women’s race in a field of 130.

Croydon managed to fill four scoring teams throughout the day, with the U17 men securing the club’s best finish of 22nd.

Omar Harhara, who was selected this week to represent Surrey at the English Schools championships in March, finished 180th in a field of 280 in 25:04.

Riddlesdown colleague Luke Wakeling was next home in 200th (25:53), with support from Rob Spalding (214th, 25:54) and Kieron Connor (229th, 26:23) to complete the team.

The club bagged more solid positions in the U13s boys and girls categories. The boys were spearheaded by Isaac Flanagan (153rd, 14:03), with Matis Godet (332nd, 15:57), Theo Flanagan (341st, 16:09) and Zachary Blair (342nd, 16:10) in close quarters in a field where 395 finished.

The result of 40th was Croydon’s best in this competition in five years.

Wimbledon Times:

Splattered: The U13 girls team of Leanne Moore, Kyra Sethna-McIntosh, Megan Driver and Cassandra Howard

The girls meanwhile finished a scoring team for the first time in decades, closing home in 44th.

Cassandra Howard was first across the line in 248th (15:27), and was shortly followed by Kyra Sethna-McIntosh (260th, 15:32), Megan Driver (269th, 15:35) and Leanne Moore (417th, 18:38).

In the showpiece men’s event where more than 2,000 runners finished, David Brown fronted the Croydon challenge with his best finish in this championship completing the 7.5mile mud-bath in 706th (51:40).

He was backed up by Glenn Barden (783rd, 52:21), Alan Burn (934th, 53:59), Mark Maginn (964th, 54:15), Mark Lynch (1,204th, 57:05) and Neil Aikman (1,215th, 57:12). The team finished 95th in the six-to-score competition out of 145 clubs.

James Moore (1,218th, 57:14), Matthew Kiernan (1,337th, 58:37) and Rod Harrington (1,426th, 59:53) completed the nine-to-score team, with Croydon placing 56th out of the 76 teams that closed in.

Croydon’s other first finishers in the other age categories included Jessica Moore (U15 girls, 229th), Jules Williams (U17 women, 636th), Caleb Drummond (U15 boys, 370th) and Jake English (junior en, 149th).

At the British University Indoors Championships in Sheffield, Damien Powell (St Mary’s) reached the semi-finals of the men’s 60m clocking 7.05secs.

Wimbledon Times:

Luke Wakeling

Wimbledon Times:

Rob Spalding

Wimbledon Times:

Kieron Connor

Wimbledon Times:

Jessica Moore