National CC Champs: Young Athletes: Weston Park, Telford

So an unusual start to the cross country season with the rescheduled National XC champs being the opening race. In a lovely setting with the sun shining and conditions more akin to summer than winter we had two teams who made the long trek to Telford.

The going was firm with grassland all the way over an undulating course. The Under 15s were first off over 4K with around 230 starting and a good class field overall, although one or two of the top athletes chose to give this a miss. Soon after the start both Luka Norden and Harry Stockill were just outside the top 10 with Daniel Arnold and Lucas Freedman also going well in the seventies. None of our lads were anywhere near race-fit so it was a case of “let’s see what happens”. At the end of the first 2k lap Luka was lying 13th, Harry was in the late twenties and the other two in the seventies. Coming into the finish straight Luka was still 13th but had thought the finish was at the start of the 250 metre straight. Unfortunately Luka lost 20 places coming in 35th with his team mate Harry passing him on the line for 34th. However, it was their highest positions in National Championship races since they stsrted out in 2020. Daniel Arnold was next in 74th. A bottom year  runner, Daniel is in good shape as he set a 1500 PB in Manchester two weeks earlier and ran a swift 6mins 20secs on a junior parkrun course the previous weekend. In 89th, Lucas had a really good race too. Lucas, who was unlucky not to make the English Schools this summer after his 2:01 800m, a time pretty similar at the same age as a certain Daniel Rowden.

The team placed 7th on the day - a good performance as the  team manager was hoping for the top 8.

The Under 17 men had to race over 6k and again we had a scoring team. Nate Harding in his last race as an Under 17 was pleased with another top 100 placing in 90th. This season Nate moves up to the Under 20s so will be a good addition to the Men's team in the Met Leagues. Aidan O'Driscoll had an excellent race for 97th. In recent weeks Aidan lowered  his 1500 PB to under 4mins 20secs and has run some excellent steeplechase races as well as smashing his 5k parkrun PB recently. Joshua Ssempiiria was 114th - a good run considering he has been working over the summer months and his training has been limited. William Muffett did well to get round for 140th but one must remember he has started an apprennticeship recently involving lots of manual work, so he must be given time to settle into this. William had a great summer, running 1:58 for 800m.

The team placed 11th on the day.

I (John Stow) must thank the parents for taking the athletes to Telford on the day.