Inter Counties CC Champs: Young Athletes
Cofton Park, Birmingham, greeted us with murky skies and a damp morning as our youngsters representing Essex competed against the best in the UK with starting fields of around the 350 mark, writes John Stow.
In the Under 15 boys race Canaan Solomon got a good start and, whilst his older looking counterparts battled it out up front with a fast start, Canaan gradually reeled them in as two of the leading contenders, Dee and Elliot, fell prey to the chasing group. Canaan stuck to his task in excellent fashion to place a brilliant 4th place, just 20 seconds behind winner Evans from Cheshire.
As good as Canaan's performance was, the most outstanding run came in the Under 17 Women's race. Jessica Burgess, we know, has improved beyond all recognition this season and has trained really hard this winter. Jess worked her way through the field to place 12th and first Essex runner home. At 300 metres to run she was 9th but was unlucky to lose 3 places on the run-in. It was a truly outstanding performance and she could well be wearing a GB vest in years to come.
In the same race Amelia Barrett, suffering from a cold, ran really well and battled hard to place 36th.
Rosie Poole and Jodi Ratcliff have also shown great improvement this season and ran well in the Under 15 girls race to place 64th (Rosie) and 93rd (Jodi).
In the Under 13 girls race, Bella Hoy kept in touch well within the leading group and hung on to her forward position with great determination to place 26th. Brother George was rewarded with a late call up and battled hard to place 219th in the Under 17 Men's race. Track man Perry Rowan, who had an injury scare during last week, ran very well to place 84th in the same race.
In the Under 13 girls race Aoife Guyatt, competing in her first major championships, placed 233rd.
In Under 13 boys race Alfie Poole, just 11, ran well for 188th.
The youngsters this weekend have the All England Schools to look forward to, with most of them top years in their age groups, and with the top 8 in the Junior and Inter races being rewarded by representing their country the following weekend in Wales.