Published: 15 January, 2015

HIGHGATE Harriers are gallantly closing in on a glorious afternoon in the Metropolitan Cross-Country League after clocking a string of top times in the penultimate race of the season on Saturday. 

Held at Horsenden Hill in Perivale, the club’s senior men’s team put in an extraordinary display in their division one meet with all 12 of their scorers finishing in the top 48 places out of a field of 389 finishers. 

Olympic, European, World and Commonwealth marathon runner Lee Merrien of Newham and Essex Beagles won the race in 30 minutes 19 seconds. But he faced a fight to the finish all the way around the 6km course from Highgate’s Audun Nordtveit and Shaun Dixon, who finished second and third respectively with times of 30.26 and 30.30. 

The collective effort saw Highgate finish the race in first place, increasing their lead over Serpentine to 173 points in the team standings. 

Showing great strength in depth, the club’s Under-17s men’s team also ran out winners on Saturday. Aurel Sinko-Uribe was Highgate’s highest place finisher as he completed the 4km race in seventh, while Alexander Machin-Paley was 10th. 

The win leaves Highgate three points behind leaders Trent Park overall. 

Highgate’s women’s team are also in with a big shout of winning the title as they go into their final race of the season in second place, 16 points behind leaders Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. 

Hannah Viner was the club’s highest placed finisher as she finished the 6km race in fourth, helping Highgate earn second place on the day.