Runners from Huntingdonshire Athletics Club (HAC) are enjoying medal success after putting on the afterburners and clocking excellent finish times at the county championships.

Several runners from more than 10 athletics clubs in the county met at the St Ives Athletics Track on May 31 for the Cambridgeshire AA Evening Open Meet to compete in the 3000m and 5000m races.

In the Senior Men's 5000m race, Christopher Smith impressively sprinted to victory and the championship title by 0.4 seconds in his first-ever competitive 5000m.

Christopher went toe-to-toe and lap after lap with the St Edmunds pacer runner until the final lap when Christopher regained the lead from his opponent and edged to victory, clocking a personal best time of 15:07.78.

The Hunts Post: Christopher first joined HAC in 2004, aged 11, and left in 2009 before returning in 2021, where he has since has gone from strength to strength. Christopher first joined HAC in 2004, aged 11, and left in 2009 before returning in 2021, where he has since has gone from strength to strength. (Image: Wayne DuBose)

A spokesperson for HAC said: "Noel Moss [Cambs AA track and field competition secretary] was particularly pleased with Christopher's victory as the St Edmunds Pacer runner earlier predicted to Noel that he would, in fact, win the race."

The spokesperson added that the quality of the other HAC runners was "no less superb", with James Orrell picking up the county bronze medal after running a determined race to smash through the 16-minute barrier.

James improved his best time by nearly half a minute to race home in 15:37.39.

READ MORE: Huntingdonshire runners enjoy medal rush at Cambridgeshire Cross Country champs

Dave Hudson ran 15:45.54 to go 3rd in the Men's 40 national rankings, while newcomer James Clark came agonisingly to a sub-16-minute time with 16:00.15.

Contesting his first 5000m race, 18-year-old Dylan Tomaselli clocked an excellent 16:15.12, which places him 44th in the Under 20 Men's national rankings.

The Hunts Post: Natty Clifford picked up the silver medal in under 15 boys 3000m race.Natty Clifford picked up the silver medal in under 15 boys 3000m race. (Image: Wayne DuBose)

In the Under 15 Boys county 3000m championship race, Natty Clifford picked up the silver medal in 10:32.57, reducing his PB by 17 seconds, and Ethan Locke wasn't far behind with his 10:39.13, also taking 17 seconds off his best.

Then in the Men's 35 county 5000m championship race and the last event of the evening in very cold and windy conditions, Martin Amos put in a quality sprint finish to take gold with his time to be confirmed.

The Hunts Post: Martin Amos' Cambridgeshire AA Evening Open Meet gold medal.Martin Amos' Cambridgeshire AA Evening Open Meet gold medal. (Image: Wayne DubBose)

The next Cambridgeshire AA Evening Open Meet will take place in St Ives again on June 14 and feature the county mile championships for under 15s and older.