South East of England Schools Inter Counties

On a gloomy day at the Newbury showground nine WGEL athletes wore the claret and gold vest of Essex Schools. Six counties took part with around 90 runners in each race. The standard was high as this represented the top 20 from each county.

Junior Boys (Year 8 and 9) 3200 metres

After a brilliant 3rd place in the Essex Schools last month George Keene excelled yet again. He was always with the leading pack and although his nemesis from last month, Ben Tucker, broke away, he was always in the chasing pack.  Tucker scored an excellent win with George just eleven seconds down in 5th spot. The difference in the county race was 25 seconds. Kaden Nelson Gursoy and Adam Amin also wore Essex vests for the first time and placed 62nd and 64th respectively. They were less than a minute behind the winner, such was the standard of this race. Kaden was 9th Essex home and Adam 10th. Both lads will be reserves for the English Schools.

Junior Girls (Year 8 and 9 ) 3200 metres

Sophia Parker for the third year in a row won Essex Schools colours and again it was a loaded field with less than two minutes covering the whole field. Hutchinson from Sussex scored a great victory with Sophia around a minute down placing 59th. Sophia gave everything from start to finish and should feel proud of her result.

Inter Boys (Year 10 and 11) 4580 metres

We had four Woodies on the start line for this race again with a field of around 90 runners. Luka Norden and Harry Stockill each had good starts and at the end of the first lap were right up with the leading group of five. Luka held on well to finish in an excellent 4th spot, just over 10 seconds behind the winner, Casper from Hampshire. Harry, having run a hard 10k tempo run the Thursday before, lost a couple of places but still made the top 10 with 8th. Both lads had made this event the past two years and in fact last year placed in the low 40's. Great runs from both! Luka was first home for Essex and Harry third. Daniel Arnold, a bottom year runner, also really excelled with 29th and this run will give him a reserve spot for the English Schools. Josh Stephenson also wore his county colours for the first time but was disappointed with 62nd. Nevertheless he gave 100% as he always does.

Senior Boys (Year 12 and 13) 6100 metres

Nate Harding, in his last year at school, made the county team and ran hard throughout for a fine 52nd and 5th home for Essex. Nate has done well with the longer distances he now races over.

A good day for our runners with three in the top 10 - this is something we have not achieved for a  number of years.

Inter Girls race (Year 10 and 11) 4100 metres

Both Jasmine Hall and Isla Fulling were on the start line representing their schools in this event. They are both bottom year runners but really excelled. Jasmine ran brilliantly for 2nd spot, not far behind 4mins 38 1500 metre runner Lily Johnson, thereby securing her spot for next month's English Schools. Isla also excelled in 8th spot but we await confirmation that she will join Jasmine.  Both girls should feel proud of their results.

Year 5 Boys 1600 metres

Raphael Thomas was running for his school and he got a good start to be lying 2nd at the halfway point. Coming out of the woods he took the lead only to venture slightly off course just 70 metres from the end, allowing the eventual winner to sweep by. Raphael has won selection to represent Hertfordshire Schools next month in Northampton. Not far behind was Zac Packstun in around 21st place, with his team-mates Jackson Sarmain and William Taylor in the mid thirties