Wolverhampton & Bilston AC get promotion
Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletic Club were celebrating after their men's team secured promotion on home turf.
The fourth and final race of the Birmingham & District Cross Country Division Two season was held at Aldersley Leisure Village.
And Wolverhampton & Bilston had two of the first three runners home to seal their place among the elite next year.
Ross Jones, from Fordhouses, led the way with his first victory of the campaign in 30mins 5secs.
Jones, Lee Slater (Dudley & Stourbridge Harriers) and Martin Williams (Wolves & Bilston) broke away from the rest of the 233 finishers on a testing six-mile course.
Jones edged away from Williams after two miles but Slater hung on for another mile before Jones opened up a 150m gap to take the win.
Slater finished second, which was enough to claim the overall individual title after winning the previous three races, with former Tipton Harrier Williams in third.
While Wolverhampton & Bilston finished second on the day, it was still enough to clinch the league title.
Club chairman Colin Thompson said: "We have some excellent young athletes coming through the ranks and they will have the opportunity to compete at the highest level in Midlands Cross Country.
"We have a good structure in place with our youth system, but to hold on to good athletes they must have the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
"On Sunday we will send eight teams over to Alexander Stadium to compete in the last league match of the Junior Cross Country League, in which we are currently second."
Cannock & Stafford finished the season in sixth, one place above Dudley & Stourbridge Harriers. Dudley Kingswinford ended 16th out of the 18 teams.
The final race of the Midland Women's Cross Country League was also held at the same time around a 4.5mile course.
Nicola Sykes (Bournville Harriers), who will be one of the favourites in the National Cross Country Championships in London later this month, claimed the win in 22min 4secs.
Tess Clarke (Wolves & Bilston) ran a strong race to claim eighth place and finish second overall in the four-race series.
Wolverhampton & Bilston were third on the day while Amie Fithern's 24min 31secs run saw her finish 23rd and help Tipton Harriers to seventh spot.
