MICHAEL COLEMAN of Medway and Maidstone defended his Kent senior cross country title on Saturday after his main challenger was forced to retire in the final lap.

Spencer Barden (Belgrave Harriers) left Wilderness School, Sevenoaks, in an ambulance after suffering a badly sprained ankle.

The race had become a three-way battle between internationals Barden, Coleman and Jermaine Mays (Kent AC) at the halfway stage.

Barden was heading for his third title after making what should have been a winning break on the third of four testing laps, but he fell heavily and the persistent Coleman took advantage.

The bronze medal went to Aboura Maheiddine (Thanet Road Runners) from Gillingham.

The younger male age group races produced two of the closest finishes of the day.

Ditton's Tom Collins (Medway and Maidstone) led from the gun in the under-20 men's race but was hunted down by Andy Welch (Ashford AC), who was given the verdict by the thickness of his vest.

The under-17 men's race also produced an exciting finish as Jack Tyler (Medway and Maidstone) narrowly outpaced Tristan Ford (Tonbridge) and Sam Dobin (Invicta).

Chris Haines (Medway and Maidstone) has hardly put a foot wrong all winter and his under-15 title was one of the more predictable results on a chilly afternoon.

Charlotte Dale (Invicta) from Whitstable gave another demonstration of her precocious talent to take her first senior Kent cross country title, finishing a massive 85 seconds from Kerrie Clarke (Medway and Maidstone).

Dale built a commanding lead from the gun and cruised to victory as Clarke fought off Jennie Butler (Blackheath and Bromley) for the silver medal.

Jenni Pereira (Medway and Maidstone) was another current international in action and she matched Dale for dominance to take the under-20 women's race by nearly two minutes from Siobhan Henry (Blackheath and Bromley).

Jessica Trowbridge (South London Harriers) from Kingswood claimed the bronze medal.

MEN’S AND BOYS' RESULTS:

Senior Men: 1. M Coleman (Medway & Maidstone) 38.59; 2. J Mays (Kent AC) 39.27; 3. A Maheiddine (Thanet) 39.33.

Teams: 1. Kent AC 57pts; 2 Medway & Maidstone 83; 3. Tonbridge AC 143.

12 to score: 1. Kent AC 293; 2. Medway & Maidstone 470; 3. Blackheath & Bromley 626.

U20 Men: 1. A Welch (Ashford) 28.14; 2. T Collins (Medway & Maidstone) 28.15; 3. D Bradley (Tonbridge) 29.10.

Teams: 1. Medway & Maidstone 25; 2. Judd School 27; 3. Blackheath & Bromley 34.

U17 Men: 1. J Tyler (Medway & Maidstone) 20.53; 2. T Ford (Tonbridge) 20.55; 3. S Dobin (Invicta) 20.56.

Teams: 1. Medway & Maidstone 27; 2. Tonbridge 36; 3. Blackheath & Bromley 63.

U15 Boys: 1. C Haines (Medway & Maidstone) 13.42; 2. J Walker (Bexley) 13.53; 3. I Harland (Tonbridge) 13.56.

Teams: 1. Medway & Maidstone 28; 2. Tonbridge 46; 3. Ashford 47.

U13 Boys: 1. A Stone (Crawley AC) 11.36; 2. J Cotterill (Tonbridge) 11.40; 3. A Coombs (Tonbridge) 11.41.

Teams: 1. Tonbridge 14; 2. Blackheath & Bromley 38; 3. Beths Grammar 101.

WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ RESULTS:

Senior Women: 1. C Dale (Invicta) 23.05; 2. K Clarke (Medway & Maidstone) 24.30; 3. J Butler (Blackheath & Bromley) 24.59.

Teams: 1. Invicta East Kent 27; 2. Blackheath & Bromley 28; 3. Medway & Maidstone 31.

6 to score: 1. Blackheath & Bromley 115; 2. Invicta East Kent 149; 3. Medway & Maidstone 169.

U20 Women: 1. J Pereira (Medway & Maidstone) 22.23; 2. S Henry (Blackheath & Bromley) 24.17; 3. J Trowbridge (South London 24.47).

Teams: 1 Blackheath 13.

U17 Women: 1. L Martin (Invicta East Kent) 15.16; 2. K Murray (Blackheath & Bromley) 15.24; 3. N Gray (Medway & Maidstone 15.38.

Teams: 1. Medway & Maidstone 18; 2. Ashford AC 22; 3. Blackheath & Bromley 24.

U15 Girls: 1. A Smith (Blackheath & Bromley) 13.27; 2. R Taylor (Blackheath & Bromley) 13.51; 3. H Garcia (Blackheath & Bromley) 14.25.

Teams: 1. Blackheath & Bromley 6; 2. Medway & Maidstone 21; 3. Bexley AC 48.

U13 Girls: 1. C Freeman (Dulwich Prep) 11.57; 2. A Dematos (Blackheath & Bromley) 12.26; 3. S Corbidge (Dartford Harriers) 12.44.

Teams: 1. Blackheath & Bromley 15; 2. Invicta East Kent 30; 3. Tonbridge AC 34.