There were some terrific performances from the squad in the Inter-Counties Championship which feature the top athletes throughout the UK via qualification with their County Championships. The race was held at in the delightful surroundings of Prestwold Hall in Loughborough on a course which was very demanding with heavy conditions in places, and with some of the squad resting in preparation for English schools the following week there were a smaller number of Harriers competing, but some excellent performances none the less.
Most prominent position from the squad was Claudia Nevett who ran a terrific race over the 6km course in the U20 Women’s race to finish in a fine 88th position out of the 183 strong field, her best ever finishing position at the Inter-Counties race. Claudia, the only Northants athlete competing, got off to a good start and ran a strong race over the challenging 6k championship course in 26:29 and now looks forward to her final schools XC race in a weeks’ time.
Claudia Nevett fine run for 88th her best ever Inter-Counties position
Jack Hope was also in action in the U20 Men’s race, finishing in a fine 112th place in 31:52 and 2nd Northants scorer with a strong run to close off his cross country season. Jack now looks forward to starting track season with an early 2k steeplechase in April hoping to set a BUCS track qualifying time.
The U17 Women were out in force with 5 Harriers representing the Northants team, and again Poppy Carmichael was most prominent with a terrific run to finish the 5km course in 161st position in 23:43 as 2nd Northants scorer continuing her recent momentum, with Sophie Moss 4th scorer in 200th (24:19) helping the Northants team to a credible 37th position. Harriet Jolley enjoyed a fine run to finish in 248th (26:16), ahead of Amy Robinson and Charlotte Maywood who enjoyed solid runs in 264th & 275th respectively.
The mass start of the U17 Women's race which featured 5 Harriers
In the 6k Men’s race Josh Cannell, the sole Harrier competing, ran well to finish in 240th in 24:45, and older brother Edward Cannell, promoted to the senior men’s ranks due to the race being under IAAF rules, and also the only Harrier in the NAA team, had a solid run in his first ever full championship 12km race finishing in 261st in 47:25.
In the Senior Women’s race saw Krisztina Kurucz battling her way to a credible 246th place over the 8km course in 40:20.
The final Harriers representation was in the U13 Girls race over 3km where Mia Brockway, now back in good form, ran well to be top KTH scorer in 205th place in 14:59, her best Inter-Counties performance in the 305 strong field, with team mate Freya Batkin just 4 seconds behind in 219th place.
Mia Brockway fine run for her best placing at a National Championship.
The majority of the athletes now head to the seasons XC finale in Norwich at the English Schools Championship, along with three of the squad who had opted to miss the Inter-Counties to ensure they were in with the best chance for what is for many the most prestigious race of the season.
Well done to all who ran!