There were some great individual runs and a fine team result for the U17 men at Parliament Hill today. It was disappointing that more people didn’t turn up to run, fair enough for the U13s, but I think older athletes could have handled the mini marathon trial and Southern in the same weekend. The Southerns are one of the big races, the ones we (athletes and coaches) put so much in to training for, most people will walk on to the mini marathon team so we hope for bigger turnouts next year!
xxxs will be replaced with numbers when I see the results!
The U15 boys were first up as the ground quickly thawed to reveal a wet course. It was Tomm who came out on top this time as he did his best to impress the Middlesex team manager! Tomm finished in xxxx with Eoin – normally our first man home – next in xxxx. Ollie was the club’s third finisher inn xxxxx. It was good to see David running the day before Richmond Park and enjoying the tough course and banter!
Rebecca was our sole representative in the U13 race and she ran a well judged race, learning from her run in the Inter Counties at the same venue. She worked her way through well to 23rd place and will now hope to make her first English Schools XC Champs at the Middlesex trials in a week or so.
Jivendra and Jamie will also be looking to make that team and look set to be in with a great chance of doing so judging by their recent races. Track specialist Jivendra got off to a good start in the first five before fading mid race to 12th. A strong finish down the hill and along the straight saw him rise to 8th. Jamie was disappointed with his finishing position of xxxxxxxxx, but if you can finish that high out of 200+ of the South’s best runners then you know you’re doing ok really!
Christina suffered on the back of a heavy cold but a few easy days will see her right and looking to end the winter with three good runs before some sun in Portugal!
Bradley was first of our U17 men to finish. Perhaps getting out a little too conservatively and thus finding himself in the second large group he worked well in the last mile and moved up to 16th by the end. He was talking about the need for a thorough (more than a jog and strides) warm up afterwards…. what do I keep telling you all?! Ross was next to finish in 35th, not an enjoyable day at the office for him, but he’ll have plenty of races left this winter to show his form. Ross – don’t lose sight of the bigger picture – the winter as a way of improving summer performance. Jack had a much better run after looking a bit out of sorts since Christmas, it was good to see someone running strongly and happy with their efforts afterwards. Ed made his SMRAC debut for the winter and performed well in 101st. The team recorded our highest ever team placing in a South of England Championship with 5th place. WELL DONE!!! A mention to Adam who got stuck on the trains and with whom that team placing would probably have risen to 4th of the 20 or so teams to finish. It is also worth noting that Bradley and Jack’s runs represent massive improvements over last year when they were 46th and 95th respectively in the U15 race…. so much higher positions this year in an older age group….. great progress.
Lucy followed up Middlesex with another muddy run finishing in xxxxx place. Finishing a team in this age group gives you a great chance of team medals so with Maddie moving up next year there are things for people to aim for… . Lucy, Georgia, Maddie…..
Maddie looked far more at ease over the hills than in the Inter Counties and she finished in a higher position in 50th place – well done for sticking at it and having such visible improvement. Molly and Katie finished as 1st and 2nd Middlesex athlete, having a great tussle most of the way round before Molly pulled away towards the end. Again, Katie, Molly, Christina, Lauren, Flo provide the basis for a good team effort next winter.
Liz Kipling was running for Ranelagh and finished in 28th after a very positive start. This was a very good run (her first time in the top 100!) and although she wouldn’t say she enjoyed it, she should be happy with that run over the mud she hates so much!
