Many KTH youngsters were in action at the Kettering and Corby District Schools Cross Country trials in West Glebe Park, Corby, and it proved to be a very successful afternoon with Harriers winning five out of the six age group races. The top 20 runners in all age groups will qualify to represent the district in the County Schools championship in January
The much improved Josh Coles put in a dominant display by winning the opening U17/U19 Boys race in great style. Leading from gun to tape he easily won the 4200m race by over 400m for Latimer Arts College.
The U13 Girls race was a much closer affair with Tabatha Walford leading from the start but being pushed hard all the way by Alison Curtis over the short 2000m course. Tabatha held on to take the win by responding to a late challenge with 60m to go. Danielle Gaskell ran a great race to take 3rd position comfortably, with Rebecca Hughes also running a good race to finish in 6th position. Emily Manson also qualified by finishing in 11th position and Freya Marlow, in a rare appearance in cross country, made it into the district team in 18th spot.
The U15 boys race turned into a procession for the Harriers who took the first three positions. Jack Hope put in another dominant display of front running by winning comfortably over the 2800m course, with the much improved Ethan Mehmet running strongly to take 2nd. Ben Tierney put in a battling performance to hold of a late challenge to take an excellent 3rd position.
The U17/U19 Girls race was won in style by Fran Ashworth who also led from start to finish over the 2800m course to take the win for Southfield School, with fellow Southfield pupil Lauren Mehmet running a strong race to take third position. Imogen Stokes ran well to take 4th position overall and first U19, with former Harrier Gina Diaz-Santana taking 5th, and Jess Gordon running well for 6th. Leah Davies finished strongly for 7th.
The only race not won by a Harrier was the Under 13 boys, but nonetheless Travis Bowley put in an excellent performance, taking third place.
In the final race of the afternoon Maisie Green made it a 5th win for the Harriers by putting in a battling display to take the U15 Girls race over the 2400m. Also running well for the Harriers was Beth Gordon who finished in 4th position, with Hannah Winstone holding off a strong challenge at the end to finish in 7th position.
The County Schools championship in 6 weeks will present a sterner test for the Harriers, but this was a great effort by all who ran.