Josh Cara was in dominant form at the Midland Counties X Country Championships in Leamington Spa, as he powered his way to his first major championship title. The U13 boys team also took team Bronze with some excellent individual performances.
The U13 boys race started proceedings at a cold and still quite firm surface, and Josh got off to a flying start and was in the leading pack which included 4 strong Leicester Coritanan’ athletes, after the first 300m sprint start josh settled in the pack and bided his time until they were faced with the steep climb on Beacon Hill, Josh put in a surge and by the time they exited the hill he had pulled out a 4m gap on the chasing pack. Josh continued to drive the pace and put in a second surge prior to the infamous “Newbold Comyn Ditch” and had opened up a 20m gap at this point, being the first athlete to cross the ditch had its advantage, as Josh easily cleared the now dry surrounding area and continued to press for home, Josh had pulled out a 50m gap when entering the home straight, and powered his way to his first major victory. In his wake were 4 Leicester Coritanian athletes who remarkably took the 2,3,4, and 5th position, Jack Hope enjoying his best race of the season also attained an impressive top 10 finished by finishing 9th with a very strong run. Ethan Mehmet and Gabriel Smith ran well to finish 62 and 68 respectively, and in the process ensured the Harriers U13 boys team took a superb Bronze Medal. Unsurprisingly Leicester Coritanians took the gold medal, and Rugby Northampton took silver.
Next up was Gemma Vaughan the sole competitor in the U 13 Girls race, who ran well despite a slight slip at the now very wet ditch, to finish in a very respectable 31st position.
The U20 women were up next and Kelly Barnet and Hayley Munn, the U20 defending champion, were in action. Hayley with some strong competition finished a very respectable 6th, just ahead of former Harrier Nicole Roberts. Kelly Barnet also ran strongly to finish in 20th position
The last race of the day with Harriers involvement was the U15 Girls race, with a full team entered including Fran Ashworth, Abigail Coleman, Lauren Mehmet, and Kayli Walford. All girls ran well with Abi taking the early initiative, closely followed by Kayli. At the ditch, Kayli had made her way up the field and had established a short lead over Abi, with Fran a further 70m behind, however all girls were safely across the ditch. With the further 1km field, kayli and extended her lead over Abi, and she finished strongly to cross the line a fine 27th, Fran also finishing the last 800m very strongly and enjoying her best race of the season was the second Harrier home in 41st position, just ahead of the tiring ABI, who had raced the previous weekend, in 43rd position. Lauran Mehmet had somehow managed to mislay her timing chip, so although she finished the exact position could not be determined!
Well done to all.