10 of the KTH Middle distance squad were in action at the final XC fixture of a long season, held at Witton Country Park in Blackburn, on an excellent course which in the main was firm under foot. The course had a challenging loop which included a steep climb to the top of “The Saucer” followed by a well received 4-500m gradual decent into the finish straight which the majority of the athletes had to tackle once, the exception being the Senior Girls & Inter Boys who had two loops to complete.
Emily Williams was the standout performance in the Cross Country Finale at the English Schools National Championships with a Terrific debut run as a bottom year Junior finishing in 64th position and in the process top scoring for Northants Team and also beating local rival Poppy Carmichael for the first time over XC, so she was delighted with her performance. Emily who is just coming into decent form following an 8 week injury, set off slightly more cautiously than the inter-counties the week before and this seemed to help as she quickly closed down the Northants competitors before the start of the steep climb to the saucer, after which she produced a storming finish in the downhill section and finishing straight to finish the 3.2km course in 12:23. Emily who has managed to squeeze x4 quality races in since returning from injury has gone some way to resurrect her XC season now looks forward in a more confident frame of mind to her specialist event of 800m on track. Jennifer Robison, qualifying for ES team Northants for the first time, enjoyed a better race this week and scored for the team as 6th scorer in 281st position (13:34). Also tasting ES action for the first time was Danielle McCann-Gaskell who by her own admission got an awful start but battled through to finish in 315th (13:52). There were 345 competitors and Northants finished in a respectable 35th position.
Emily Williams Top Harrier on the day in a superb 64th place!
The Senior Girls were the most successful Northants team on the day helped with fine performances from Jess Gordon & Fran Ashworth who were 5-6th scorers in the outstanding team performance who finished in a magnificent 8th overall. Jess had a slightly better race than the week previous but is feeling a little jaded at this stage of the season but she still managed to finish the 4.3km course which included two hill circuits in a superb 105th position in 18:19, with the fast finishing Fran Ashworth capping perhaps her best XC season and her best ever ES placing, finishing in a fine 126th (18:33) just behind her club colleague and a big improvement on her 2014 placing of 219th. This was the last ES Championship for both Jess & Fran who have been ever present in the Northants team on XC over many years, so perhaps an emotional farewell!?
Fran Asworth Best ever ES poistion 126th (helping Northants to 8th Team position)
Jess Gordon Fine run for 105th (helping Northants to 8th Team position)
The other notable performance came from the Junior Boys race where Henri Codling was experiencing ES for the first time as a bottom year junior, and he enjoyed a fine race over the 3.6km course to finish in a 166th in 13:18 and help the Northants team to an impressive 9th place overall as 5th scorer, and he will look to build on this next season.
Also tasting ES for the first time were three of the Harriers Inter Girls with Sophie Moss again putting in a very credible performance at bottom year Inter to finish the 3.6km course in a solid 231st in 15:06 as 4th Northants scorer, with Chloe Hearne in 266th (15:27) 6th N’hants scorer & Elana Alberry 288th (15:38) helping the team to finish in 33rd position. All girls have had a very bust XC season & will take valuable experience into future years.
Jake Trent & Ethan Mehmet were also in action in the Inter Boys race which included two saucer loops over the 5.5km course and both struggled a little in the race but put in credible performances with Jake 4th Northants scorer in 270th and Ethan Mehmet in 301st.
The cross country season now draws to an end and the squad will enjoy a short break before returning to track in an attempt to better the record breaking 2014 season…Bring it on!
Well done to all the squad who competed throughout a tough XC Season!