Young Athletes at the National Road Relays, Sutton Park

Woodford took three teams to this event where each runner in the young athlete races runs a leg of 3886 metres. The course, all on tarmac, contains a climb of around 700 metres near the start. It ,levels off for around 1200 metres until you turn right for the downhill push over the last 1000 metres.

There was some concern whether the event would even go ahead due to Storm Amy coming in the night before leaving gusts of around 50mph to be encountered on the day. Fortunately the event went ahead with trees swinging and swaying around all over the park. 

The Under 17 Men’s team had high hopes of a top six placing but unfortunately Harry Stockill was carrying a cold as he started the Woodies out on leg one. Around 100 teams started out. Although slightly below form Harry stuck to the task despite not feeling 100 percent. He placed 20th on leg one in 12:20. Rotherham through Mikey Bacon were leading at this stage.

Luka Norden set out on leg two determined to make some ground up and he did so in fine style, moving us up to 13th and covering his leg in 12:19. Cambridge and Colebridge were now heading the race through Finn Hutchinson. 

Oscar Eaton took care of our final leg. Our 800 metres specialist was a bit unsure how to pace himself. He got involved in a great battle with South Of England 3000m champion Caspian Holmes from Herne Hill. The two of them made up ground on other teams only for Holmes to nudge just in front at the finish with our man bringing us home in 10th. Oscar returned 12:15 for his leg.

Daniel Arnold was also carrying a cold but stuck to his task really well which was made harder when he was pushed over soon after the start. He placed 60th in 13:13. Josh Stephenson took over and ran a fine leg of 13:07, passing seven runners. A fine run indeed! Another 800 metres specialist, Lucas Freedman, ran the last leg and unfortunately for him felt some discomfort with his back on the final downhill stretch but only conceded one place, finishing 54th while running 13:45.

The windswept conditions certainly affected the times for all runners. The lads were slightly disappointed with 10th and felt they should have been much higher. The team manager and coach was also hoping for better. He feels they should have been given the opportunity to have run the Southern event two weeks earlier. The opposition was tough, all the leading Under 17 distance runners were in view representing their clubs. Still, 10th is a highly encouraging position to finish and although there were a few southern clubs ahead of them there was only two teams from the North with none from the Midlands ahead of our lads.

We also took an Under 15 boys team up too with these lads going for the experience. They were 56th from over 100 teams. Eric Frith ran the first leg. A bottom year lad, he had a fine run placing 51st in 13:48, worth way inside 18 mins for 5k which Eric enjoys running. Adam Amin ran leg 2 and was unfortunate to be held in the pen until way after Eric had finished losing around 20 seconds or so. Adam battled through the wind and rain running 15:16 to come home in 59th. Oskar Prince, who enjoys many other sports, ran the final leg making up three places to 59th and running 14:50. 

The boys did really well and will benefit from the experience of competing in a National event. I must thank the parents who transported the athletes to Sutton Park. All the lads now have the Met League to look forward to. My congratulations to all nine of our lads.