RUNNING: LEAMINGTON runner Monica Williamson is celebrating after coming away with a gold medal at the British Masters National Cross Country Championships in Liverpool.
Williamson travelled to Wavertree Park on Saturday for the event which attracts the best masters athletes from around the country, many of whom are keen to attract the eye of the selectors for the British and Irish Masters International race later this year.
She ran a superb race to claim individual gold in the W55 age category, in a field that included quality opposition.
The race was a gruelling 6.2km over parkland that included several large waterlogged sections, with driving rain and heavy winds making the going tough for the competitors.
The race started with a shorter loop of 1km during which Williamson paced herself well within her capability being tracked closely by two others in her age category who were both previous winners of this event.
Williamson pulled away in the first of two long 2.5km laps, opening up a gap of 30 metres on her nearest rival.
She pressed on as the rain became heavier and increased her lead through the second large lap to finish in a time of 26.20 and 17th overall in the race.
This result followed her recent victory in the West Worthing 5km along the seafront the previous weekend which she won outright in a time of 19.30.
