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Top 20 at National 6 stage road relay

Sunday 6th October 2024

After a good performance at the Southern 6 stage Relays in Aldershot, Sutton park and the National 6 stage Relays awaited a youthful Phoenix Team. The boys travelled up to Birmingham on the Friday night, with Finn McNally flying in from Belfast. A team dinner at Pizza Express increased excitement and provided some suitable pre-race fuel. We had a provisional goal of the top 27 which we believed was the highest recent Phoenix finish.

Race morning began with an industrial amount of porridge cooked by coach Bruce, and a general buzz about how the team might perform later that day. We suited up into matching Adidas tracksuits and headed out on a team walk through suburban Birmingham in search of some pasta and chicken for lunch. 

After arriving in Sutton Park, we discovered that the so-called ‘slight gradient’ that Owen and Finn had described the night before was actually a long, brutal stretch of hill that went on and on. There was also a failure to scout out a long windy stretch at the top of the course which brushed off as ‘its all downhill from here’.

Nevertheless, one by one we started to warm up excited by the race ahead. Phoenix icon Finn McNally was to take us out strong on a competitive first leg featuring some of the country's strongest runners. Finn ran with his heart on his sleeve, he led up the hill and held on strong to bring up through the first leg in 12th. 

Previously U17 National 5k Champion around Sutton Park itself, Owen Wallek took over from Finn on the second leg. Within the first 400m Owen had Olympian and 2:06 marathoner, Emile Cairess, appear on his shoulder, showing the class of opposition we were up against. Owen had a great leg keeping us in the top 20 whilst also challenging miles to the award for worst sunglasses.

Owen passed onto Relay Enthusiast Ravi Clark (me). I had a sole goal of keeping us in contention for the top 25. Having been ill for the week before, I started conservatively up the hill and tried to hold onto a pack on the long straight at the back of the course. Whilst not the prettiest leg of the day we were still in the top 25 as we reached halfway.

Newcomer Euan Willis was tasked with the fourth leg and after a few weeks of great training, Euan was well up for this one. He warmed up with some photoshop shenanigans on the journey up but come raceday Euan battled hard and kept us within reach of finishing below 27th as he brought us through in 30th.

Samuel Stapely was our 3rd under-18 competing. Sam is both a specialist over middle distance on the track as well as a great performer over the roads and cross country. He started well picking a few off going up the hill before settling into his stride at the top. After 4km the course went sharply downhill where Sam really made up some ground on the field. After an amazing leg we sat in 24th with our eyes on the top 20.

We had the dream combo of speed and endurance on the anchor leg with former English Schools champion over 800m, Miles Waterworth who also placed 4th at this year's English Schools cross country championships. Miles ran hard up the hill, despite not feeling 100% he inched closer to the top 20. As he came through the line he had secured a place within the top 20 going down the hill putting in a 2:52 5th km. 

The team had finished in 18th place at the National 6 Stage Road Relays. We were buzzing. For a team where 5 out of the 6 were still U20, and half of the team were yet to turn 18 to finish in the top 20 of a National Senior men's race is a huge achievement.

Thanks to Coaches Bruce Warren and Joel Kidger who travelled to support, Harry Swindells who enabled us to qualify through the Southern 6 stage and the club who supported us with travel and accommodation.

Up the Phoenix!