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U20s Build Momentum with 4th at Mansfield

Monday 3rd November 2025

Fresh off of success at the National 6-stage relays, part of that team headed to Mansfield for the National XC Relays this time in the U20 age-group. They had their eyes on a medal and to better the 8th place finish from last year.

For the U20s, Mansfield consists of 3x3km legs through a technical and windy course largely up and down through the woods at Bury Park. Owen would take on the first leg, a difficult task with Mansfield's reputation for a rapid first kilometer. Owen got out well and tucked into the top 15. Through the woods he moved through well and by the first changeover we were in 8th with a good pack to work with to chase the medals.

Ravi took over on the second leg, and worked to chase the leaders down and keep us in contention. Despite nearly falling over the downhill log jump in the wooded section he held on after an aggressive start and held position in 8th coming through in the second group behind the leaders.

Miles was left the difficult task to make up time on the top 3, he passed a few early and continued to chase through the middle kilometre. Miles ran excellently, and with Blackburn and Invicta East Kent the two teams left for him to chasedown, it looked like we still had a chance in the last 800m. However by the final turn we had run out of grass and finished in 4th place, despite the joint fastest leg of the day for Miles. 2nd, 3rd and 4th place were separated by just 4 seconds. Frustratingly we were just 2 seconds off the medal we had been looking for, but were still pleased for our highest finish at Mansfield yet. Bittersweet.

Xander Sproston continued for Phoenix running a sole-leg in the senior men's race, which consists of 2 laps, 5km total. Xander showed his strength and endurance finishing in 21st after the first leg. Xander along with Miles, Ravi and Owen looks towards the European XC Trials at Liverpool in 3 weeks.