Josh Cara put in a top class performance to finish in the top 25 in the English Schools Cross Country Championships race on Saturday and was the highest placed Harrier on the day which saw a total of ten of the middle distance squad competing in the prestigious championship held on a dry but very undulating course in Ilton, Somerset.
Josh found the going tough at the start and was swamped early on, but after getting into some free air he quickly moved through the field on the mainly flat 3750m course and power his way to a fantastic 23rd in the Junior Boys race which proved to be the highest placing in the day from the whole Northants Squad, and also for Josh's adopted county of Warwickshire. Josh seemed to perform much better than the previous weeks Inter-Counties where he was bottom of the age group, and Jack Hope also put in a much better performance and ran an impressive race finish in an much improved 56th position, and top scorer for Northants, helping the Northants team to 30th position overall. Ethan Mehmet found the going tough with his third race in as many weeks to finish a creditable 314th.
In the Inter Girls race over the same 3750m course which had 4 Harriers in action, Kayli Walford was again in top form finishing top scorer for Northants in a highly creditable 118th position, with Fran Ashworth completing the course to finish in a respectable 226th position, and Lauren Mehmet again with 3 consecutive races doing well to finish in 299th, with Northants team finishing in 37th position. Abigail Coleman, competing for her adopted county of Leicestershire & Rutland, ran well to finish in 211th to help her county finish in an impressive 10th position in the team event.
The Inter Boys race over 5910m saw Josh Coles running a strong 2nd lap to finish in a highly respectable 96th position (2nd Northants scorer) in the race, with fellow Harrier Liam Kirk finishing in a creditable 243rd (5th Northants scorer) to help the Inter Boys team to 30th position.
Gamma Vaughan was the sole Harrier representing the Junior girls in the 3120m race, which saw her run a decent race to finish in a creditable 289th (5th Northants scorer) to help the team to finish in 36th position.
The Middle distance squad who have acquitted themselves very well over a tough XC season now take a well earned rest in preparation for the new track season.
Well Done to all who competed in the over the XC season.