Hercules Wimbledon AC teenager Cassian Hyde claimed his first ever win in last weekend’s final Division One meeting in the 2XU U17s Surrey men’s Cross Country League.
Hyde, 16, stormed home over the 2.5 miles in 15 minutes, 13 seconds, beating rival Merhawi Yemane from Herne Hill Harriers by seven seconds.
It was Hyde’s first success after finishing runner-up in his three previous races this season.
Hyde, who will feature for the Surrey schools team in the English Schools Championships in Derbyshire next month, also took the overall league title for his age group and was presented with a gift voucher as his reward.
His victory, following his third place in the Surrey Schools Cross Country Championships at Reigate the previous weekend, will boost his chances of being included in the Surrey County team to compete in the UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Birmingham next month.
With Matthew Gibbons (ninth, 17:12), Alex Bond (15th, 19:51), Dominic Howe (17th, 20:34) and Robert Howe 18th in 21:53, the Hercules Wimbledon team finished third in the division’s final standings.
Hyde also took the overall league title for his age group and was presented with a gift voucher as his reward. With Matthew Gibbons, ninth in 17:12, Alex Bond 15th in 19:51, Dominic Howe 17th in 20:34 and Robert Howe 17th in 21:53, Hercules Wimbledon were third in the team event.
Another Hercules Wimbledon runner to take an overall league title for the season was Jonathan Cornish, who won himself a £50 gift voucher in taking the U20 title.
After finishing top U20 runner in his previous three appearances this season, Roehampton University student Cornish had to settle for the runner-up spot in the age category behind his Hercules Wimbledon clubmate Liam White, who was competing in the Surrey League for the first time this winter.
White was also the top Hercules Wimbledon finisher taking 10th place in 30:00 ahead of Kieran White (15th, 30:08), Cornish (38th, 31:42), Matt Sharp (50th, 32:15), Phil Glynn (52nd, 32:22), veteran Stuart Fraser (56th, 32:47), David Grima (79th, 34:21), Ian Pegler (87th, 35:59), Andrew Davies (89th, 36:08) and veteran Stewart Bond (98th, 36:56).
The Hercules Wimbledon team finished sixth on the day to take fourth place in the overall rankings.
Hercules Wimbledon's U13 cross country runners produced their best team performance of the season and were just pipped for the honours.
They gained the same number of points as the winners and were beaten on countback.
They were led in by twins Elliot and Harris Mier who were fourth and fifth in 18:16 and 18:20. James Hodkinson was sixth in 19:30, James Forde 11th in 20:28 and Oscar Wainman 12th in 20:33.
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