Lymington runner Valeria Sesto and county teammates win Inter-County National 20-mile Championships gold

LYMINGTON Athletes founder Valeria Sesto and her Hampshire teammates romped to Inter-County National 20-mile Championships gold in Essex.

The talented foursome finished as the highest-placed county team after all four competitors came inside the top 10.

Team members include Lymington Athletes, Lymington Triathlon Club (LTC) and New Forest Runners member Sesto, Ryde Harriers’ Holly Newton and Charlie Metcalfe, and Southampton AC’s Ellie Monks.

Former international athlete Kathy Bailey, who lives in Hordle and began her running career as a New Forest Runner, managed the ladies to their impressive victory.

Monks finished as the team’s highest-placed athlete, taking the silver medal position, while Sesto crossed the line ninth overall, winning her age category by a significant margin.

After the race, Sesto said: “I surprised myself by realising that my finishing time was a PB by four minutes, at age 50!”

The race was so chilly on a freezing morning that athletes struggled to take on water without their hands getting too cold.

The runners raced around five four-mile laps on a round and flat airfield course, with the county team managers gathering around the start and finish area.

Hampshire team manager, Kathy Bailey, said: “A huge congratulations. I was very proud to be your team manager.

“I hope you all enjoyed the day and taking the trophies back with you.

“I look forward to bringing it back next year!”