Herts Schools Cross Country Champs, Sat 31st January
These championships are spread across two venues, the secondary at St Albans and the primary at Bushey.
It was a very good day for our runners (two second claim) as no fewer than seven athletes made the top 15.
In the Inter Girls race at St Albans, Jasmine Hall and Isla Fulling were on the start line for their respective schools over a very muddy 4200 metres. Jasmine is now a swimmer at International status but still competes for us when she can. Jasmine started slowly but with confidence worked her way through the field to finish an excellent 4th place to secure her place in the English Schools for the forth year running. Isla, who is concentrating on track more this season, also had a good run to finish 9th to book a reserve spot for English Schools.
In the Primary schools event all the races were over 1600 metres of a mixture of bark, gravel and grass. In all the four races the first twelve were selected to run for Hertfordshire in the National primary event at Coventry next month.
In the year 6 race Raphael Thomas, always near the front, added his second title after having won the Hertfordshire Under 11 race earlier in the month. Raphael spurted clear with 80 metres to go to remain unbeaten in 2026. Behind Raphael was James Tattersall who had a spill at the start but worked his way from about 50th to move through to 15th at the finish. Zac Pakstun had a great start and with 400 metres was well inside the top 10 but unfortunately for him he had breathing difficulties to place 31st. William Taylor also ran well to place 80th. In all these races there were around 130 on the start line.
In the Year 6 girls Nola Gliver-Hammond also got caught in the scramble at the start and passed 400 metres in around 40th spot. She did really well to move through to 14th.
In the Year 5 boys William Lowers led out at the start and kept that position throughout the race only to be overhauled right at the finish. Nevertheless he was delighted with his run and joins Raphael in the National race running for Hertfordshire. It was William's first medal, being a silver.
William Lowers & Rafael Thomas
In the Year 5 girls race Francesca Lyons had a great start and was in 4th spot after 400 metres. She showed great grit and determination and ended up an excellent 7th to gain her county colours.
It was a magnificent day for our younger runners who gave great support towards one another. These athletes train twice a week at Harlow Town Park and Bullfields in Sawbridgeworth with their coach John Stow.