Eton Manor were one place away from a hat-trick of podium finishes at the London Cross Country Championships.

Tomas Stasionis finished third in the men’s race, Alex Gounelas just missed out on a top-three placing in the women’s after coming fourth, while Kate Malcolm was the first women vet 35 to cross the line.

The men’s race was was over a four-lap 10km course at Parliament Hill and Stasionis and Cambridge Harriers’ Dean Lacey were neck-and-neck all the way.

As the competitors came into the home straight, Stasionis had the lead but was overtaken in the run up to the finish funnel, with Thames Valley Harriers’ Chris Smith coming through to take the title in 33.14. Lacy took second in 33.48, with Stasionis six seconds further back.

Other Eton Manor runners were: Dave Daugirda (163rd, 44.05), Adrian Frost (177th, 44.59), Daniel Hall (187th, 45.22), Steve Adams (229th, 47.44), Anthony Lawson (239th, 48.14), Lance Tabraham (257th, 51.44) and Robert Maggio (279th, 68.49).

The women’s 6km race was also closely fought, with Gounelas (23.16) holding third until the home straight when she was overtaken by Highgate Harriers’ Kate Meredith (23.14).

Malcolm (24.37) crossed the line nine places further back to take first in the vet 35 category.

Club-mates Zoe Woodward (28.03) and Claire Wagh (28.27) finished 66th and 75th respectively.