Sunderland Harriers’ senior men’s team bid to maintain their upward trend when they compete in the Northern Cross Country Championships at Knowsley on Saturday.
They are targeting a top 10 team place after finishing 12th at Blackburn last year and 16th at Pontefract in 2015. This time the Wearsiders have only Ian Dixon, Steve McMahon, Nathan Reed and Aidan Crowe, remaining from their scoring six of 2016.
Nathan Reed was the first Sunderland finisher at Blackburn, in 59th. Then came solid runs from Kevin Jeffress in 73rd, Steve McMahon 133rd, Ian Dixon 150th, Aidan Crowe 154th and Matt Devlin 171st. Reed is doubtful this time as he has been struggling with an Achilles’ tendon injury, Jeffress has opted out to concentrate on the North East Masters’ Cross Country Championships the following week, while Devlin has moved to Bristol. Kevin Calvert, Steven Duffy, Barry Maskell and Jason Waite all come into the team. Calvert finished 78th last year and will be keen to improve on that performance. This will be Waite’s Northern debut and Duffy’s first appearance since 2010, while Maskell, an Under-23, makes his senior debut....