Bishop’s Stortford teenager Luke Dunham finishes sixth in Saucony National Cross Country U17 men’s final

Bishop’s Stortford teenager Luke Dunham switched his fine form on the track to the cross country course as he came sixth in the Saucony National Cross Country U17 men’s final.

A strong field of 162 athletes from across the country, including Scotland, lined up in unusually sunny and warm conditions for the two-lap, 6k course around Weston Park in Telford on Saturday.

Dunham, who has just started in Year 12 at The Bishop’s Stortford High School, was in the front group from the start of the race and led for part of the first lap before eventual winner Michael Clark (City of Norwich AC) picked up the pace on the second lap.

It was the closest race of the day, with less than 20 seconds between the first six runners.

Dunham, representing Wodson Park-based Herts Phoenix AC, was pleased with his performance, especially given that he still has another year in his age category.

The event was postponed from earlier this year, due to flooding.

It was Clark who took gold in July when Dunham won a bronze medal representing Hertfordshire in the boys’ 3,000m at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

The Stortford lad went one better when he won silver running for England in the 3,000m at the School Games National Finals at Loughborough University on August 31.