ByBrian Sacks, Brian Sacks
Richard Goodman claimed a resounding victory at the Southern Counties Senior Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill.
Having returned from a month’s altitude training in Kenya, Goodman’s performance also ensured that Shaftesbury Barnet won the team trophy.
Making light work of the hilly and muddy 15km course, Goodman, a student at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, finished 150 metres clear of defending champion Frank Tickner.
Having caught his breath after a race run over the traditional three-lap course that has been used for the national championships, a victorious Goodman said: "I kept to my plan of staying with the leaders for the first two laps and pushing ahead after that.
"As we were moving into the third lap I was feeling good and running well within myself, although there was now a problem of picking my way through lapped runners. I put on a small surge and found that I quickly built up a significant gap.
"Soon I realised that I was out on my own, and I really enjoyed the last part of the race as I put on some speed down the final hill."
The former double Maccabiah gold medallist now has his sights set on another big prize this weekend. "I’m really happy with how the race went, and it was ideal preparation for British Universities Championships in Stirling."
In other age group races at the championships, Lia Radus placed 49th in the under-13 girls, Jessica Hurley was 131st in the under-15 girls and Ben Hatch came 56th in the under-17 boys.