The Kettering Town Harriers Middle Distance squad were in fine form at the Anglian Trophy, held at the picturesque setting of the impressive Royal Hospital school in Ipswich, which is the final opportunity to secure qualification for English Schools Cross Country Championships in March.
There were some fantastic performances on the day with Emily Williams enjoying her best performance of the XC season winning her 4th Anglian Trophy title with a powerful display of controlled front running over the shorter 3740m course, comfortably defeating an quality field including two English Schools track finalists Lincs Grace Sullivan & Cambs Shannon Flockheart in a time of 12:57. Emily who is now has 3 weeks preparation for the three National championships which close off the XC season, the first the English National at the iconic Parliament Hill in London on 24th.
Superb Victory for Emily Williams, her 4th Anglian Trophy win
For the Younger age groups both Lucas Rogers & Harriett Round impressed in finishing in 5th place, Harriett was 2nd Northants scorer finishing strongly over the short 2200m course in 8:54, helping the Northants Minor Girls team to an impressive team victory along with Lauren Hewitt who ran well finishing in 15th place as 5th scorer. There was also a team victory for the Northants Minor Boys, with Lucas Rogers leading the team home over the 3040m course in 11:43 to continue his fine form this season.
Harriett Round great run for 5th place in the Minor Girls race
Lucas Rogers in 5th place leading the Northants Minor boys to a team victory
Bottom year athletes Dylan Bowley (Inter-boys) & Poppy Carmichael (senior-girls) both ran well finishing in 12th place in strong fields and both securing qualification for English Schools in 3rd & 4th qualifying spot respectively, with Carmichael helping the Northants Senior Girls to an impressive team victory.
There were other English Schools places up for grabs as well with Josh Cannell qualifying for the first time in the Senior Boys race over 6900m, with a good run for 43rd (6th Northants) along with Tom Jawad in 46th (7th Northants qualifier).
For the Senior Girls race over 4040m there were further qualifiers along with Poppy Carmichael with Harriet Jolley running a strong race for 24th qualifying in 7th place with Amy Robinson as 8th Northants athlete waiting for confirmation of her place depending on any appeals. Freya Batkin also ran well in 36th place as 8th Northants finisher in the Junior Girls race over 3040m and will be keeping her fingers crossed for selection, with Mia Brockway a little off her best in 57th place.
There was respectable performances from Morgan Potter (Inter-boys) finishing in 48th place and Ryan Raulia & Josh Clutton (Junior-boys) in 64th/ 71st respectively.
Well done to all who ran.