Whitfield takes surprise victory (From Stroud News and Journal)

Whitfield takes surprise victory

IAIN WHITFIELD chalked up his biggest cross country victory with a surprise win in the Midland Counties Cross Country Championships at Stafford Common.

The 17-year-old Stroud and District AC runner defeated local favourite Alex Derricott. Whitfield's victory was even more remarkable considering the track athlete finished 21st t year.

However, there was later a disappointing end to the day after it was initially announced that Whitfield and his Stroud colleagues - Ander Russell, Luke Browning and Ed Womersley - had finished third in the team event.

The quartet had actually been awarded their bronze medals only for the organisers to then announce they had made a mistake, when it was discovered that Notts AC had finished two points ahead.

Whitfield also ran to a silver at the South West Schools' Cross Country Championship in Bristol on Saturday. Meanwhile, Stroud and District trio of Tom Russell (senior boys), Matthew Withey (junior boys) and Tom Curr (minor boys) all scooped gold in Bristol. Slad's Katie Goodhead captured her first Midland Championship medal after the 19-year-old finished six seconds behind Cannock's Stacey Johnson.

Randwick's Alex Felce, who has previously won the Under-15s and Under-17s titles, finished a creditable sixth in the Under-20s event with Stroud's Seb Duffy 10th. In the senior women's race Gwen Kinsey was 33rd and Sally Frapewell 56th.

* RYAN PREDDY smashed his personal best over 400m when he clocked 47.57 in the Birmingham Games at the National Indoor Arena. Preddy's previous best indoors time was 48.22s. The 21-year-old in his first 400m race of the season was given an identical time with Irish international Robert Daly, who was in the Olympic squad last year.