Met League 2, 2024-25: U11/U13
Met League 2: U11/U13s Lead the Way at Horsenden
Woodford's young athletes continued their terrific start to the Met League campaign with another table-topping performance at Horsenden Hill. The U11 Boys and Girls and U13 Girls led after the opening fixture at Claybury last month. The U13 Boys were third and looking to build on this position in the second fixture.
Races in the young age groups are hotly contested. Established league clubs like Windsor Slough, Eton & Hounslow, London Heathside, Shaftesbury Barnet and Victoria Park & Thames Harriers always organise strong junior teams alongside their senior squads, and for the second consecutive fixture over 200 athletes took to the line in U11-U13 races.
Horsenden Hill - The Course
The junior races featured mostly long grassy sections and gravel paths. U11's ran 2km around grassy playing fields. U13s ran 3km. They followed the 1km loop of the U11s but on the first lap peeled off for 1km around a grassy upper field, before dropping down for a final loop of the playing fields. Conditions were overcast and damp underfoot.
Race Results
U13 Boys
WGEL had 5 athletes in a total field of 55. Dennys Pascal (SBH), third in the first fixture, won the race this time, ahead of team-mate Ben Kasper (SBH) who was again runner-up. Last time winner Joshua Maiden (Herts P) was third on this occasion.
Eric Frith (4th),was first home for Woodford improving on his 5th place at Claybury. Eric was 2 seconds behind the leaders and closing the gap on this group of boys. Eric was disappointed not to make the top three and has his eyes on the podium.
William Smith (9th) made a very welcome return to the team and ran well for his place in the top ten. Both Eric and William (and team mate Oskar Prince) were recently selected to represent Essex in the upcoming Southern Inter-Counties.
Daniel Hayden (26th) was another who improved on his position in the first fixture. Moving up 10 places, he finished ahead of a pack of 5 athletes with a great sprint finish! This pack included team mate Ashton Jokhiya (28th) who closed the A team. Ashton was rightly pleased with his run. Next home was Edward Owens-Hill (53rd) who opened the B team. Edward has stepped up from the Wasps this season and if can remain consistent in training will soon move up the leaderboard.
Shaftesbury (198 points) won the fixture ahead of VP&TH (180 points) and Herts Phoenix (161 points). Woodford A team was third (157 points). Woodford B team were 21st (3 points).
U13 Girls
Woodford had 9 athletes in this race from a total field of 49. Violet Muralidhar (ESM) took victory again and was clear of the chasing pack.
The battle within the chasing pack was much closer. Woodford’s Eva Prince (5th) was in the thick of this pack but ended up just outside the top 3 in a great race with fourth placed Fitzgerald (Hill) and third placed Graham (SMR). Less than 5 seconds separated the 3 girls at the end. Eva's performances this winter have rightly been recognised with her selection for Essex. Eva will race for the county in the Southern Inter Counties team in December and will go in confident mood.
Grace Cherry (7th) was next home. Grace has made huge leaps forward this winter and a sign of that was her disappointment despite an excellent race to not be closer to the leaders. Poppy Barker (10th) is another rapidly improving. Poppy moved up 8 places from the first fixture to claim a spot inside the top ten. Lottie Oates (20th) has been unwell in recent weeks, but starting to find her form and will almost certainly improve from here. Lottie closed the A team.
Kehanique Lowe (23rd) opened the B team. It was a good run from Kehanique who despite a preference for track, enjoys cross country and is a very valuable member of the winter team. The same can be said for team mate Rosie Anderson (32nd) who is another with a preference for track, but is a steely competitor in all conditions! Just behind these two were team mates Maia Lalani (37th) and Sophia Stephenson (38th). As was the case at Claybury, these two were neck-and-neck again and, spurred on by one another, they closed the B team!
Nia Patel (47th) made her Met league debut having stepped up from the Wasps, and ran well to open the C team. Nia is an all-rounder and will benefit from the race experience gained this winter.
Woodford A team won the fixture (154 points) ahead of VP&TH (137 points). The strength in depth of this squad was again clear to see with the B team 9th and C team 20th.
U11 Boys
WGEL had 11 athletes in a total field of 46 and dominated this fixture! Jack Tonge followed his victory at Claybury with another fine win. Jack ran from the front and, leading from almost the start, he held off the challenge of second placed Rubenstien (SBH) for the entire race.
Raphael Thomas (3rd) was next home for Woodford. Raphael, having recovered from his cold at Claybury, was again amongst the leaders and was third, one second behind Rubenstein.
Taking confidence in the performances of his team mates Jesse Geller (4th) took a big step forward, leading a small chasing pack behind the leaders to secure his highest Met finish with a fine run. Training partner Patrick Langan (13th) also continued his progress this season, helping close the A team with a confident run.
Lukas Sendar (14th) was next home and opened the B team. Lukas is an all-rounder and his consistent training is starting to pay off, as is that of team mate Luca Cook (16th) who had his best run this season. It was great to see Luca back around the leaders after a period of months suffering from injury. George Davies (19th) continues his progress and gaining lots of experience in his first season racing with the team, as is debutant Noah Gavin (22nd) who ran a very good race to close the B team in style.
Luke Foley (27th) opened the C team with a good run. He was closely followed by Dylan Williams (29th) who is doing superbly as a first year U11. Kia Patel (41st), another athlete who is building his experience of racing this year, opened the C team and was pleased with his run with a big smile at the end of the race!
Woodford A team won (167 points) ahead of Shaftesbury (160 points). Such was the dominance of the boys, Woodford’s B team was 4th (117 points) and C team 9th (44 points).
U11 Girls
Woodford had 8 athletes in this race from a total field of 36. Sophia Davies (TVH) won the race with Alice Clements (Enfield) runner up for the second consecutive fixture. Chloe Ward (4th) was first home for Woodford. Chloe was disappointed with her run despite finishing just outside the top but should take confidence in her ability to remain amongst the leaders even when a little off colour. Phoebe Quorn (6th) was next home for Woodford. Phoebe was a fraction of a second behind 5th and only 10 seconds off the top three, and looks stronger with each fixture.
Rosie Barron (9th) was next home. Rosie is another fantastic young athlete and, despite her slight disappointment with her run, was already looking forward to putting it right at the next fixture!
Closing the A team was Jessica Cole (21st) who continued her progress this winter with a terrific run and a well-deserved first appearance in the scoring A team.
Nola Glover-Hammond (24th) opened the B team with an impressive run and closely followed by Kaya Affleck (25th) who is having an outstanding debut season. Other athletes showing potential are Hannah Hussain (33rd) who followed her debut at Claybury with a good run and Abigail Oronsaye (34th). These two closed the B team and are building their experience and learning how to race competitively.
Woodford’s A team won (107 points) the fixture ahead of London Heathside (67 points). The B team was 10th (30 points).
Summary
The junior squad followed their impressive start to the Met League at Claybury with another fine display at Horsenden. They remain well placed in all the age group club competitions and the overall Howard Williams Trophy. The squad is also well positioned in the individual competition with Jack Tonge leading the U11 Boys and Raphael Thomas (U11 Boys), Chloe Ward (U11 Girls), Eric Frith (U13 Boys) and Eva Prince (U13 Girls) in and around the top three medal positions.
The next fixture is tough logistically, out in the wilds of Uxbridge. Historically this is the lowest attended fixture of the season. Getting athletes to this race could make all the difference, particularly in the overall club competition. Thanks for all your support and see you at Uxbridge!
Next Met League: Hillingdon House Farm Uxbridge (Saturday 30thNovember 2024)