The fortieth Youth's English National Cross-Country Championships took place at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes. The race consisted of one shortened lap of Campbell Park and loops of the Newlands area for the start and finish. The course went over a bridge over the Grand Union Canal and was 4 miles in length. The Provincial Insurance Company Limited continued their sponsorship of the race.
Darren Mead (Thetford AC) swiftly stretched the field, Mead led by 30 metres as they traversed the bridge and moved up the hill. Chasing Mead were Chris Teague (Liverpool Harriers), Steve Fury (GEC), Richard Goddard (Stretford AC), Philip Gladwin (Wolverhampton & Bilston AC), Phil Helm (Liverpool Pembroke Harriers), Tim Knibb (Salford Harriers), Chris Payne (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC), Tim Hewson (City of Plymouth AC), Tom Richardson (Bolton United Harriers) and Ian Hall (Copeland AC). Mead increased his lead to 50 metres from Goddard, Gladwin, Teague, Fury and Richardson. On the descent to the finish Mead extended his lead to about 100 metres with Goddard, Gladwin and Richardson further back were Teague and Fury. On the downhill Teague and Fury pulled the chasing group back. Mead crossed the line in 22:21 with Teague holding off Fury for the other medals.
Mead told Brian Smyth at Athletics Weekly: "It's very tough to run on the mud, but it was a nice course. There was a bit of up and down in it. It was really very testing."
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