Met League 5, 2024: U11s & U13s
WGEL junior athletes ended the Met League season with a fantastic all-round performance as they battled it out for team and individual trophies in the mud at Trent Park (Sat 10th February 2024).
The Course
U11s ran a loop on the top field of approx. 2km. U13s ran half this loop before dropping down into a lower field and climbing back up to the top field to finish. Distance approx. 3km. Underfoot conditions were horrible with standing puddles of water, mud, cambered slopes and an uphill finish!
U11 Girls
WGEL U11 Girls were hoping to retain their trophy from last year, and they led going into the race.
Alice Clements (Enfield) won the race in 9mins 57s. Grace Cherry (6th) was first home for WGEL in 10mins 29s. Grace dug in and fell over the line with tiredness such were her efforts! It’s been a fantastic winter for Grace who has been incredibly consistent and regularly in the top 10. WGEL girls were off to a flyer and they packed superbly with Gracie Fayinka (7th) making a welcome return, finishing seconds behind Grace after a terrific run, and team mates Rosie Barron (8th) and Lottie Oates (14th) in hot pursuit, all running the races of their lives to close WGEL A team (scoring 4) in just 14 places!
Hot on their heels were Rosie Anderson (16th) who has been a tremendous competitor this winter, while Ava Pugh (20th) has been enjoying her first season of cross country and ran well. Next home were Sophia Stephenson (23rd) and Chloe Ward (24th), enjoying their first winter, also performing brilliantly to close WGEL B team.
Maia Lalani (26th) was next back and although disappointed has been a big part of the team all season. Phoebe Quorn (28th)was also disappointed after falling in the mud, but she recovered to finish, which shows the tenacity these girls have for the team. Lucy Nixon (29th), Daisy Whelan (30th), Jessica Dawkes (33rd), Evelyn Marables (34th), Jessica Cole (35th) and Isla McHugh (36th) closed WGEL C team. These girls have been superb, with many running their first cross country races this season for WGEL.
Met League Competition - WGEL A team won the fixture and were crowned league Champions with 484 points. They finished over 100 points ahead of Shaftsbury Barnet (367 points) and Harrow AC (345 points). WGEL B team was 6th (first B team) and WGEL C team 9th such is depth of this squad no other club had more teams this season.
Individual Results: Grace Cherry (377 points) was WGEL's highest placed finisher in 5th place. Sophia Davies (396 points) of Thames Valley Harriers won the individual trophy ahead of Grace Rooney (394 points) of SHB and Alice Clements (393 points) of Enfield and Haringey.
U11 Boys
WGEL U11 boys were 3rd going into the final fixture. The gaps to Shaftesbury and Victoria Park at the top were too big but the boys needed a good performance to hold off Ealing and retain a podium position!
Once again in this age group finishing times were tight. Joshua Maiden (Herts P) won the race in 8mins. WGEL A team was led home by Jack Tonge (16th) in 10mins 5s. Jack has led the boys home all winter. He has been a cornerstone for the team and was pleased with his run. Ashton Jokhiya (18th) made a superb debut but was disappointed to have run “slow” in muddy conditions. Another debutant, Albie Ellingham (25th), was next home with a fine run, finishing ahead of teammate Patrick Langan (27th) who was pleased to close the WGEL A team and has progressed well throughout this winter.
Jesse Geller (28th) had an excellent run, taking it out hard at the start. He has been an ever-present this season and helped the team at every fixture. Fintan McDonnell (35th), Idris Bernard (36th), Noah Parker (37th), Luke Bachmann (38th), Nathan Phillips (41st) and Finley Witchell (42nd) all packed superbly, closing WGEL B team and opening WGEL C team. The boys have been superb in a very competitive league all season and competed brilliantly despite many being lower age group and making debuts this year.
Met League Competition -WGEL A team finished 3rd in this fixture and retained third place overall with 480 points. Shaftesbury Barnet (760 points) were champions ahead of Victoria Park (683 points). WGEL B team (206 points) was 9th and WGEL C team 14th place.
Individual Result: Jack Tonge (353 points) was WGEL's highest placed finisher in 8th place. Joshua Maiden (399 points) of Herts Phoenix won the title. Dennys Pascal (398 points) of SHB was runner up and Luis Da Silva (391 points) from TVH was third.
U13 Boys
WGEL boys were 5th ahead of this fixture. Unfortunately, the previous fixture at Welwyn Garden City had coincided with a number of U13 athletes being unwell and/or having school commitments. As a result, both the boys and girls had had incomplete teams. And the Met League is very competitive. The top 3 teams will have complete teams at every fixture but WGEL’s U13s were determined to bounce back!
Aidan Wolpert (VPH &TH) won a very close race in 10mins 38s. WGEL’s first athlete home was Oskar Prince (18th). Oskar ran really well despite conditions not favoring his track tendencies! Debutant William Smith (19th) had a storming run and was just ahead of teammate Eric Frith (20th) and Tayo Adetona (22nd). This was superb packing from the boys, who closed WGEL A team. If the boys had managed to get a complete A team in every fixture they’d undoubtedly have finished on the podium.
Thomas Nicolls (31st) had a good comeback run in tough conditions after a few weeks out and opened WGEL B team. Daniel Hayden (41st) was next home and was pleased with his run, especially after his disappointment at having to pull out in the last Met fixture. It was good to see him back!
Met League Competition - WGEL A team was 4th in this fixture and fifth overall. Ealing Southall and Middlesex (811 points) won the league. Windsor Slough and Eaton (716 points) were runners up and London Heathside (657 points) third. WGEL B team were 13th and WGEL C team 20th place.
Individual Result: Emmanuel Olabanji (327 points) was WGEL's highest placed finisher in 14th. Aidan Wolpert (399 points) of Victoria Park won the title.
U13 Girls
Ellian Ponkratieva (SMR) won the race in 11mins 20s. First across the line for WGEL was Sophia Parker (9th), who equalled her best result from the previous fixture alongside team mate Eva Prince (10th). This was their second consecutive top 10 finish and they were only 60s behind the winner.
Marissa Higgs-Smith (24th) was next home. Marissa's pole vault skills came into play as she traversed the deep puddles with a great run to cap off a fine winter. Mayowa Alake-Nyantakyi (29th) followed in next with her best run of the season. After recovering from illness she gave it everything and closed WGEL A team.
Zoe Wright (32nd) is very used to muddy football pitches and ran well, making a welcome return to the team and opening the WGEL B team. Chloe Summers (34th) overcame her pre-race nerves and finished her first full cross country season in style. Heavy muddy conditions were tough going but Chloe kept moving though the field, closely followed by team mates Simi Adetona (36th) and Aoife Pearce (37th). Simi and Aoife had their best runs of the season and closed the WGEL B team. They might be more accustomed to track but have given it their all in the cross country races they’ve competed in this year.
Met League Competition - WGEL A team finished 2nd in this fixture. This was a great result and, like the U13 Boys, except for the incomplete team at Welywn they could have been on the podium. Overall WGEL A team (421 points) finished fifth. St Mary’s Richmond (609 points) won the league with Harrow AC (448 points) second. Shaftesbury Barnet(431) third. WGEL B team were 14th and WGEL C team 18th place.
Individual Result: Sophia Parker(364 points) was WGEL's highest placed finisher in 9th place. Ellina Ponkratieva (400 points) of St Mary’s Richmond won the title.
Summary
Competition in the junior age groups has been fierce all season. The Met League is increasingly competitive with new entrants of Windsor Slough and Eton and more organised Harrow AC and St Mary’s Richmond junior teams added to the established junior teams of Shaftesbury Barnet, Victoria Park and London Heathside.
Despite this, WGEL junior squads once again showed that they are a force to be reckoned. WGEL U11 Girls retained their league champion status and were dominant. WGEL U11 Boys were third and, bar the unfortunate circumstances at Welwyn, both WGEL U13 teams would have finished on the podium. This bodes well for the future and the whole squad deserve huge praise for their performances and achievements this season over the 5 fixtures.
Finally, a huge thanks to all the parents, supporters, coaches and team managers who contributed to another fantastic Met League season!