Report – Nationals 2026

Two classic battles showcased a day of intense competition in Sedgefield at the 2026 edition of the National Cross-Country Championships. The women’s race saw four athletes go toe- to-toe, trading the lead before the final, decisive blow was landed with just a couple of kilometres to run. Meanwhile, the men’s race was a straight head-to-head between two past champions keen to top the podium for a second time.

 

But of course the day was much more than that. The ten-race programme saw everything from sensational sprint finishes with the victory in doubt until the final stride to fabulous surges up the final, testing climb that quickly became a key point in each of the races. “Fast and testing but make sure you keep something back for that final two kilometres,” was the handy advice one of the first winners of the day handed out at the finish. Rory Barclay-Wood did just that to win the U17 men’s race with what for him was a surprisingly effective sprint for the line. “I don’t usually do that,” he laughed, explaining how the early fast going could easily sap your strength. His insight would prove invaluable. Sedgefield’s rolling parkland loop looked innocent enough but would prove to be a tough one to conquer and only the strongest survived, which in this case was close to 4000 finishers. That was a great entry for this new venue and congratulations to everybody who raced. And a big thanks to the organisers, officials and volunteers who put together such a fabulous day.

Very quickly, the field thinned down to five serious contenders that included last year’s winner Jess Gibbon (Reading), along with the silver medallist, Amelia Quirk (Bracknell), not to mention the 2024 winner Niamh Brown (AFD) and two Herne Hill Harriers in the form of Molly Smith (HHH) and finally, but certainly not lastly, Lucy Smith (HHH) who was fourth last year.

 

Gibbon was happy to hit the front and keep the pace moving, but when Brown and Smith eased into the lead, she was the first to drop. In the space of a kilometre, the lead pack was reduced to four.

 

From there, it was a case of who could hang on best to the relentless pace everybody appeared ready to share and that answer came in the form of a mightily relaxed looking Jones. She spent a kilometre or so swapping the lead with teammate Smith before putting her head down and making a run for the line.

 

“With about a kilometre to go, I could just feel the field starting to stretch so I put my head down and went for it,” said the jubilant winner afterwards. “It was really good to win today, and I really enjoyed it; it was great fun,” she continued, explaining that she only returned to the sport in her 20s and was determined to have a good time. “I wasn’t worried if I was fourth or first, I just wanted to have fun.” Behind her Quirk used her track speed to secure second while Smith rounded out a great day for Herne Hill with the bronze which meant HHH comfortably took the team title.

 

Just like the women’s race, a stacked field flew through the opening kilometre. Three of the first four were former champions, which highlighted the strength in depth on show. Quickly three big guns established themselves at the front end of the huge field snaking its way through the country park. Hugo Milner (Derby), back from injury and keen to show he’s returned to full fitness led the way with James Kingston (Tonbridge) matching him stride for stride, while last year’s winner in the mud bath of Parliament Hill, Richard Slade (Chiltern Harriers) lurked ominously in third, a stride off the pace.

 

Kingston, the 2023 champion, has enjoyed a good, solid winter this season and it showed as he took the race by the scruff of its neck and forced the pace. Milner tracked his every move, ready to take on the workload if needed, but Slade couldn’t match the two up front and had to settle for a long run on his own to secure what turned out to be a bronze medal. Meanwhile up front, it was Milner who clearly was back to full form. The triathlete – he’s off to Australia for a training camp before a tilt at a major event in China – left nothing to chance and kept his foot to the floor to win by the best part of 100 metres.

“I went out really hard (he won the first kilometre sprint prize of £50 cash) to see if anyone was ready to go with me. Credit to James who did, and he even pushed it on,” said Milner afterwards. “But I felt really good and was even holding back a little bit so when we hit the windy part of the course, I went for it.”

 

It’s a great return for Milner who had spent, in his words “months sitting on the sofa” wondering if he could ever rediscover the form that took him to victory in the September 2024 National. “Funny enough, the course was very similar to that; fast and quite flat although nowhere near as warm,” he laughed. Tonbridge, led by Kingston, were the team champions.

 

In her final race as an U20, Rebecca Flaherty (Bingley) bided her time as slowly but surely previous winners and GB internationals faded away. Then just as it looked like this might be a sprint finish race, Flaherty surged to the lead and almost instantly built up a 100-metre buffer on her rivals. “I’m so happy with that,” she said. “I came here looking for a medal so to win my first ever national title is so exciting. I just said to myself ‘you know what, let’s go for it’. I felt really good at 3km and just sent it for home.” Next up is the World University Cross in Italy. Salford were the team winners.

 

The day had started with the U17 women’s race won by Sonny Allen (Highgate H) and it set the tone for the day. Quickly a big pack of seven or eight took command of the race, with Allen waiting for right moment to launch her drive for home. It was a tactic that worked well all afternoon. “I felt comfortable and I knew I was ready to go for it,” she said: “I felt a few respond but I had something left.” Aldershot took the team title led home by Kitty Scott, who had done a lot of the early work, in second.

 

Gabrielle Pinder (New Marske) started cautiously in the U15 girls’ race, but when she finally arrived at the front it was significant. She wasted no time in stamping her authority on the race and opened up a huge lead as the field made its way up the final climb. Looking full of running, she kept her foot to the floor and accelerated away to defend the title she won last year in Parliament Hill. “I was a bit surprised as I was actually off school this week as I wasn’t well,” she said, perhaps explaining that slow start. The team title went to Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow.

 

When Madison Kindler (Brentwood Beagles) is in the field, one thing is for certain: it’ll be a fast race. Fresh off an age group 1500m record of 4:28 a couple days to go with her age group national title earlier in February, she controlled the lead group in the best way possible – by taking it on! “I’m very happy with the way things are going,” she modestly concluded, her eyes firmly on Inter Counties and English Schools titles early next month. AFD were the team champions.

The result in the U20 men’s race was in doubt until the final stride of 10 intense kilometres. Biruk Aduna Kebede (Clayton Le Moors) followed Matthew Pickering (AFD) every step of the way before launching what he thought would be a decisive kick. Yes it was, but credit to Pickering who had thought being in the lead off the final bend would be enough. He dug deep and passed his race-long rival with just 30 metres to run before Kebede dug deep and edged ahead.

“I’m a middle-distance runner,” said Kebede “so I knew I could sprint at the end.” However, Pickering made him work for that win every step of the way. He led pretty much from the gun and keen to follow where other AFD athletes have gone in the past he wanted that gold medal. “I’m old school and not a sit and kick athlete,” he said. “Thanks to Mick Woods, my coach, who has been fantastic. He helps me to always set a hard pace and never leave it to chance.” He did, however, head home part of AFD’s winning team.

It was the U17 champion Rory Barclay-Wood (Exeter) who had advised his fellow competitors to keep something back for that final, testing 2km. Those were the tactics he used to win the gold medal by just one second. “I haven’t been too successful with sprints in the past,” he joked “so definitely save yourself for that last section.” His win also perfectly illustrated what the National is all about. “We drove seven hours for this, and it was definitely worth it.” Blackheath Harriers will agree with that sentiment having won the team title.

“Go hard from the gun; that was my strategy,” said Theo Creed (HW) who led his teammates to individual U15 boys’ gold and the team title. “It’s been a mixed season so far, but this felt great,” he said after beating fellow rivals who had got the better of him earlier this season.

And finally, the U13 boys’ event featured a similar race as Luis Da Silva (TVH) led the whole way. He won by eight seconds but in truth appeared to have plenty in the tank if any attack had been launched. “Actually, I normally sit and kick but for some reason I felt really great,” said the Southern champion. Herne Hill won another team gold to cap a successful day for the London club.