The final fixtures of the Cross Country season saw and established International athlete and the best of a new crop of middle distance stars in action to cap another successful XC season for the Middle Distance Squad. Emily Williams was representing England in the Schools International at Wollaton Park & the best of the year 5/6/7 athletes representing their county at the National Primary school championships held on a much improved Prestwold Hall course.
16 year old Emily Williams gave a great account of herself competing against the best 32 athletes from England/ Scotland/ Wales & a Combined Ireland finishing in a fine 13th place and helping to secure a team Gold for England.
Emily Williams a fine run representing England, her 3rd vest over XC in succession
The course was set out in front of the magnificent Wollaton Hall in a 2km circuit and was a very tough test with a series of steep inclines to deal with. Williams winning her third International vest in succession for XC capped a fine season and will now take a 2 week break before starting her track assault over 800 & 1500m where she has a superb target to aim for with places up for grabs over both distances for the European U18 championships in Hungary in July, and with GCSE’s a clear priority she will have a very busy few months.
The National Primary school championships running for the third year in succession is really starting to gain momentum with athletes from the length and breadth of the country participating to make this a high quality National Championship. The course was run in a different area to two weeks ago where conditions were about the worst encountered at a championship and it was in pretty good condition, but was tight twisty & very narrow in places so getting a good start was essential.
The Yr6 boys gave a great account of themselves on the day with some superb running from the youngsters with Jacob Asher-Relf the standout performance of the day. Jacob didn’t get the best of starts due to his position in the pen but managed to make up good ground once he got into his running and approaching the start/finish area he was in 4th place battling with 4 athletes for the Bronze medal and he was agonising close missing out by just 1 second, finishing the 2,2km course in 7:27, however Jacob did help the Northants team to a team Bronze medal! Also running well was Ernie Jackson finishing in a superb 12th place, and Dylan White with a strong run for 60th place out of a field of 260! The yr6 Boys secured a superb Bronze medal.
Jacob Asher-Relf (1645) best placing of the day in 4th, just 1 second off a Bronze medal!
The Yr7 boys race with Lucas Rogers the sole representative from the Harriers, was next off and Rogers got off to a good start and settled into the race at a good pace finishing strongly to finish just outside the top 20 in 22nd place in 10:53, and was the highest Northants finisher from the county squad out of the 168 runners competing. Rogers finishing a superb season over the country and will hope to take a significant amount of momentum into the forthcoming track season.
In the Yr7 girls equivalent race: Harriet Round struggled to get off the line and perhaps didn't get off to the best of starts due to her pen position, but she pushed on regardless and made up places well throughout the race and with a strong finish coming in 51st out of 177 athletes in 12:04, also top scorer for the county team.
For the younger Yr5 age groups the Harriers contingent put in some great performances, for the girls Magalena Galcheva ran a strong race for 55th place (third Northants scorer), with Evie Brooker finishing in a respectable 208th place out of the 253 finishers. The boys James Clutton top scored in 187th place, with Oliver leak in 209th , Tristan Bamford 237th & jack Mowatt 245th all with respectable performances out of the 266 finishers.
KTH's Boys Yr5 athletes
KTH Yr5 Girls Evie Brooker & Magalena Galcheva
Well done to everyone who competed in the final XC event of a long season!