Skinner tears through the field (From Croydon Guardian)

Skinner tears through the field

2:47pm Thursday 19th November 2009

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Hampton’s Mike Skinner won the senior men’s 9km race in 28:14.

Skinner took his time in the lead group in the early stages, before making his break for victory.

The lead trio, which included Twickenham-based Scott Overall as well as Skinner, went into the penultimate lap 40m clear of the chasing pack.

Overall was 20m off the pace going into the final loop.

Skinner broke clear in the final stages, with Overall third (28:34).

“I raced to our plan,” said Skinner, the Kingston and Richmond schools competition manager.

“My coach said to sit in for the early laps and then, if possible, to wind it up, and I stuck to that.

“It was heavy underfoot and you had to work to keep your balance. I felt strong.

“I can’t take anything for granted, but I’m looking forward to Liverpool.

“I have got another two weeks of hard training before then, though.

“There are a lot of good guys out there who want to make the team, but I definitely want to be part of it.”

Tsegei Tewelde finished in second place in the 9km race.

Belgrave’s English junior cross country champion Nick Goolab made an impressive start to his season by taking second place in the junior men’s 8km race in 26:04, just two seconds behind winner Johnny Hay.

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