BROMSGROVE and Redditch AC saw their men’s distance running team book their place at the National 12-Stage Road Relay Championships.

The 12-strong line-up delivered 15th place at the Midlands Championships in Sutton Park, comfortably coming within the top-25 finish needed to secure a place on the national stage.

It also matched the club’s highest-placed finish in 2009.

Joe Smith handed them a strong start when he returned in 11th place, galloping round the 5.6 miles in 29 minutes and 23 seconds to set the club up for the rest of the day.

Taking over on leg two was Darren Hale, Darren who is currently in heavy marathon training sprinted round the short leg in 17.55 finishing in 17th place, followed by Kent-based athlete James Bowler who took on the long leg and lifted the club four places for 13th place.

In leg four, Kev Fisher tackled the undulating course in 18.23 and Rich Malin took over on leg five and lifted the club three places into 12th place.

James Adie made a welcome return for BRAC and held the team’s position, before Ashley Ross had a composed run in the final long leg to complete the 5.6 miles in 33.45 returning in 15th place.

Calvin Scoltock, who is primarily an 800-metre runner, swapped his spikes for racing flats to complete leg eight in 19.30 for 16th place. Simon Lanckham took over on leg nine and ran the club’s quickest short leg of the day in 17.38 lifting the club a place into 15th.

He handed over to long-standing club member Mike Hanson, who maintained the status quo for the club with a 18/42 clocking for 15th place.

In leg 11 Kevin Lanckham clocked 19.05 as the team were placed 16th, but a strong final run from anchorman Malcolm Duff lifted the club one place to secure qualification for the Nationals, running in a time of 18.30 for 15th place.

The B team finished 40th out of the 55 teams with a number of runners on the short legs running quicker than some of the A team.

James Hood (18.23), Rob Mole (19.19), Simon Hall (18/36) and Anthony Warner (19.26) will all be looking to stake their claim for the National Team.

The club should also have former athlete Adam Peacock available and he with will further strengthen the team.

With the National being run over six long and six short legs, there are plenty of selection permutations for team manager Len Quarterly to consider in the run-up to the event.