Results put Rotherham runners in the ‘Premier League’
ROTHERHAM Harriers secretary Steve Gaines has saluted some “Premier League” performances at the recent English Cross Country Championships.
The team silver medal in the U17 women’s event at Sedgefield was the eye-catching result of the day but it came alongside many other worthy results.
Steve said: "We had three complete teams finish their races. Two of them were in the top ten and the senior men’s team were 21st. Even 21st place nationally is not bad. It’s Premier League status.
"The U17s girls were beaten by Aldershot Farnham and District, who are probably the strongest club in the country.
“To get four scorers and to get them 9th, 10th, 15th and 16th nationally is fantastic.
"The club’s achievements continue to surprise everybody. It is incredible to get local South Yorkshire and Rotherham girls up amongst the best in the country with silver medals.”
Steve, who is the 2026 president of the English Cross Country Association, has seen the club’s fluctuate across different age groups down the years.
"Every club goes through phases,” he added. “We had a lot of strong years with senior women and now we seem to have fallen away in that and we are having a lot of success in younger age groups individually or in teams.
“Abigail Andrews, for instance, finished 11th as an U15 girls at Sedgefield. Her primary sport when she first came to us was football. She has been around a while and she is going to get stronger.
“Edward Rose didn’t have as good a run, he was 63rd, but he was second in the Northern Cross Country back in January.
"We have got some talent.”