Gaya, 15th January 2024: In a remarkable display of endurance and skill, athletes Hemraj Gurjar and Ankita secured the senior titles at the 58th National Cross Country Championships, held in Gaya. Representing the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), both runners showcased exceptional performances in their respective categories.
Hemraj Gurjar triumphed in the men’s 10 km event with a time of 29:30.00, narrowly edging out Puneet from SSCB, who finished in 29:35.00. The race for the bronze was intensely competitive, with Sawan Barwal of Himachal Pradesh clinching it in 29:38.00, just ahead of Ravi Gulia of Haryana.
The team title in the men’s category was won by the Services team with 20 points, followed by Railways with 28 points, and Haryana securing third place with 64 points.
In the women’s 10 km race, Ankita led the field with a winning time of 34:36.00. The Railways team dominated the women’s section, securing the team title with 16 points. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra claimed second and third places with 41 and 77 points respectively.
This championship also highlighted the future stars of Indian athletics with under-20, under-18, and under-16 categories competing fiercely. Shivaji Parashu (Karnataka), Rohit Binner (Maharashtra), and Sachin Rawat (Delhi) emerged as winners in their respective age groups for men, while Beby (Uttar Pradesh), Vaishnavi Naveen S (Karnataka), and Janhavi Hirudkar (Maharashtra) claimed the top spots in the women’s categories.
Results (All finals):
Men: 10km: Hemraj Gurjar (Railway Sports Promotion Board) 29:30.00, Puneet (SSCB) 29:35.00, Sawan Barwal (Himachal Pradesh) 29:38.00.
Team: Services 20 points, Railways 28 points, Haryana 64 points.
U-20: 8km: Shivaji Parashu (Karnataka) 23:42.00, Naresh Chopra (Rajasthan), 23:46.00, Rohit Choudhary (Rajasthan) 23:54.00. Team: Rajasthan 42 points, Maharashtra 52 points, Haryana 54 points.
U18: 6km: Rohit Binner (Maharashtra) 18:11, Abhishek (Sikkim) 18:13, Mohit Choudhary (Telangana) 18:18.00.
U16: 2km: Sachin Rawat (Delhi) 5:37.00, Anil Kumar (Uttar Pradesh) 5:39.00, Amit Kumar Mahto (Jharkhand) 5:42.00.
Women: 10km: Anita (RSPB) 34:36.00, Anjali Kumari (Bihar) 34:47.00, Poonam Sonune (Maharashtra) 34:47.35.
Team: Railways 16 points, Uttar Pradesh 41 points, Maharashtra 77 points.
U20: 6km: Beby (Uttar Pradesh) 20:50.00, Sonam (Delhi) 21:10.00, Sanghamitra Mahato (Jharkhand) 21:14.00.
U18: 4km: Vaishnavi Naveen S (Karnataka) 14:39.00, Sakshi Bhandari (Maharashtra) 14:47.00, Shilpa Hosamani (Karnataka) 14:57.00.
U16: 2km: Janhavi Hirudkar (Maharashtra) 6:43.00, Khushboo (Rajasthan) 6:49.00, Shivani (Uttar Pradesh) 6:51.00.
These results from the National Cross Country Championships demonstrate the depth and potential of Indian long-distance runners, setting an optimistic tone for the future of athletics in the country.
