4 more of the rapidly depleting KTH U20 middle distance squad are off to University in the next few days, so for the second week running many of the remaining squad saw them off in the traditional post final session Trading Post gathering for an emotional send off, and exchanging of thank you cards and coach prepared “University Packs”!
Abigail Coleman the longest serving member of Coach Shane Smith’s squad at 8 years is off to Bath to study sports science, and will be hoping to link some of the theory of her very successful career in the squad which has seen her win individual & team County medals at Track and cross country, a regional medal at Road Running (Midland Relays) and a National championship Silver medal with the hugely successful Leicestershire Schools XC team, and she is also a key member of the Club Record holding and undefeated women’s U20 4x400m relay squad. Abz has been ever present in the squad and has competed and trained all year round, throughout her time at the Harriers and is a huge role model for many of the younger athletes.
Jess Gordon who started training in the squad in 2010, is off to study Maths at Trent Uni and will be looking to improve her mathematic ability to break segments and laps of her races to help improve performance! Jess is also a superb role model for the younger athletes and has also won many individual & team medals at county level on track & cross country, and perhaps her best performances was a Bronze team medal in the regional Midland County road relays, and superb championship gold in the U20W Midland Counties XC Championships in 2015 and like Abz a key member of the U20W Club Record holding and un-defeated 4x400m squad. Jess has shown more than anyone in the squad what can be achieved with nothing more than simple Hard Work and it’s a huge credit to her in what she has achieved.
Cludia Kelsall was a later addition to the squad arriving in 2012 is also off to study Maths but at Bath, where she hope to train with club colleague Abz! Claudia has achieved great success over her preferred cross country event, also winning county medals of all colours and was also part of the Midland Counties Gold medal winning U20 XC champions in 2015. Claudia has suffered with some niggling and some more serious injuries in her time at KTH but has always shown tremendous courage and determination to keep her fitness with swimming/ cycling and to claw her way back. She encompasses what determination is all about and we wish her an injury free time while at Uni.
Josh Golding, is a very recent addition to the squad arriving early 2015, but he has improved immensely in his time, and has made many good friends with the squad members. Josh is studying sports science at Trent Uni, so may also be able to train with KTH colleague Jess Gordon, and continue his improvements in the sport.
We wish all 4 the very best of luck in the new chapter in their lives and we hope they continue to compete first claim for KTH, and train during the numerous holidays they seem to get!? Training will not be the same with the missing U20’s, including Fran Ashworth who departed last weekend. The younger squad members now have some room to breathe and exert their personalities within the squad and to concentrate on emulating their fantastic role models.
Stay Safe and see you all at Christmas!
Shane – (Coach Smith)
Claudia, (Coach Smith), Josh, Jess Abz off to Uni.....Best of Luck Guys!
