Harrier Jemima Davey produced the race of her life at the prestigious 27th National Preparatory Schools Cross Country Championships, set in the wonderful surroundings of Malvern College, to take the U11 girls title in style. The National Prep-School cross country championships is the culmination of a season’s long of XC competitions, and was represented by over 60 schools throughout the country with competitors from Yeovil to Newcastle.
Jemima Davey (572) off to a great start and prominanat throughout the race
10 year old Davey, still a year young in the age group, produced an outstanding performance over the technical and hilly 2.6 km course to take the gold medal in 11:05 ahead of Eliza Muysken, in a field of over 260 athletes.
Competing for Kimbolton Prep-School Davey started well and used her track spint speed to move ahead of a congested field into the first steep hill. Davey then showed her class by sitting in on the leaders for the first km, and then executing her pre-race tactics to perfection to kick with 800m to go to move from 4th to 2nd, and then overhauling Muyslen who had a 25m advantage with 200m to go in a thrilling finish to secure her first major title by just 3 seconds.
Delighted Jemima Davey with her first major championship win
Davey has made terrific progress training with the older girls within the Harriers squad and has also showed her track pedigree in 2018 setting a new U11 600m club record aged just 9. Davey now eyes up the National Primary schools championships in 2 week at Preswold hall in Loughborough which will be her last race of the season before returning to track.
Well done Jemima, brilliant running.