21 athletes travelled to Prestwold, Leicestershire, for a big Open Cross Country – one of the test events – which attracted an entry from a wide area though numbers fell as those living in Tier 3 were not able to go. Like most others, they hadn’t raced a cross country since March. Or even a track or road race for most. But they rose to the occasion with many outstanding runs. The concentration, enthusiasm, and pace judgement were excellent. To take full advantage of their fitness though their training on their own in the first lockdown and together since it was allowed. We accumulated 3 winners, 1 second, and 2 third places. And others excelled themselves wherever they finished.
Lottie Langan won the “older girls” race with a superb well judged run, sitting behind the leader then making a decisive long run for the finish. To beat an athlete 3 years older, who was 10th in the Under 17 Inter Counties at that venue, and has run 4.40 for 1500m.
York won both Year 5 races, with Hannah Lovett setting off calmly as instructed, then pulling away mid-race and keeping it going. Then Ollie Wright with a dominant solo run from the start, in complete control, to win by 30 seconds in a 6 minute race.
In the Year 6 race, Aimee Keefe took the lead at half way, and pushed on. She was overtaken just before the finish by an athlete with much more race experience but 2nd was an excellent result and a real “breakthrough” for Aimee. Nina Hopkins finished 8th, an excellent result and well judged run with her training having been restricted by injury.
In the Year 7, Lucy Gilbertson also pushed on from half way, stretching out the field, and finished an excellent 3rd. A case of stronger athletes, and nothing she could have tried that would have led to a higher place. A well judged way to ensure a finish as high as possible. And in the Year 7 Boys, a trio of excellent runs with Daniel Campbell 3rd, Daniel Kennedy 5th, Charlie Blades 9th.
Apologies for the lack of report, in our 8th race of the day, your correspondent in wellingtons and waterproofs didn’t make it out to the far end of the course. For everyone who ran, excellent runs, their first race for a long time and now their last race for a long time. But they gained the most from it that they could.
Year 8 and older girls – 1 Lottie Langan, 16 Holly Moss, 44 Ellie Johnson, 51 Martha Sigsworth, 54 Clemmie Tighe, 59 Kaitlin Keens. 68 ran. Year 8 and older boys – 15 Josh Sandwell (3rd Under 13), 26 Will Keens (6th Under 13), 39 Miles Watson. 63 ran. All Under 13s against older opposition.
Year 7 girls – 3 Lucy Gilbertson, 18 Isobel Madden. 52 ran Year 7 boys – 3 Daniel Campbell, 5 Daniel Kennedy, 9 Charlie Blades. 53 ran
Year 6 girls – 2 Aimee Keefe, 8 Nina Hopkins. 79 ran Year 6 boys – 9th to 12th? Josh Velding. 28th Tom Mitchell. 56 ran. suspect some chips didn’t record.
Year 5 girls – 1 Hannah Lovett, 16 Sophia Horsfall-Samb. 75 ran Year 5 boys – 1 Ollie Wright. 78 ran.