WORCESTER Athletic Club’s senior men have been promoted to Birmingham and District Invitation Cross Country League Division One.

They impressed in Division Two’s final race four at Ullenwood, Cheltenham, hosted by CLC Striders over 10 kilometres.

Worcester finished with an emphatic win over rivals Telford AC and Cannock and Stafford AC.

The city placed second overall in the prestigious league, 88 points behind winners Telford, and were among three promoted teams from the division.

The first Worcester runner home in the field of more than 250 competitors was junior man Dan Stock who clocked 36 minutes 25 seconds for fifth, 40 seconds behind winner Chris Perrin from Cannock and Stafford.

Close packing from the A team followed with their six scorers in the top 26 in a chilly wind on an undulating, heavy course.

Ben Jones was sixth in 36.43, Ben Duncan 11th in 38.07, Dan Geisler 15th in 38.17, Mark Teague 24th in 38.59 and Mike Jeavons 26th in 39.03.

The B team followed closely with Richard Walsh 35th in 39.32, Robbie Campbell 43rd in 39.47, Adam Pollock 44th in 39.47, Kevin McMillan 53rd in 40.10, Lewis Sternkopf 58th in 40.20 and Luke Sheppard 81st in 41.40.

The group would have placed eighth out of 17 competing and throughout the series finished first in three out of four.

Other Worcester runners were Ciaran Connor 88th in 42.10, David O’Brien 90th in 42.12, Darren Salisbury 93rd in 42.17, Jonathon Holland 98th in 42.34, Stefan Sternkopf 99th in 42.39, Andrew Peach 141st in 44.42 and Chris Crosswell 256th in 1.07.43.

A club spokesman said: “With our promotion back to Division One we look forward to next season and are confident of reestablishing Worcester’s position in the Birmingham league.

“With over 28 athletes competing across the four matches our strength in depth shows great promise.

“This season’s campaign was masterminded by Dave Waldron (team manager) and thanks go to our designated official Derek Cowdrey.”

The senior men’s next endurance challenge is the Area and National 12 Stage Road Relays in March at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield.

LEAGUE POSITIONS

1 Telford AC, 2 Worcester AC, 3 Cannock & Stafford AC, 4 Halesowen A&CC, 5 Bournville Harriers, 6 Bromsgrove & Redditch, 7 Black Pear Joggers, 8 Stratford upon Avon AC, 9 Dudley & Stourbridge Harriers, 10 C.L.C. Striders RC, 11 Tamworth AC, 12 Kings Heath Running Club, 13 Spa Striders, 14 Massey Ferguson RC, 15 Gloucester AC, 16 Northbrook AC, 17 Dudley Kingswinford RC.