The club had 9 of our top junior athletes competing at an extremely muddy Prestwold Hall, Loughborough. Despite it being a dry and relatively warm day the rain over the previous days rapidly turned the undulating farmland course into a sea of splashy mud! Having been selected for Staffordshire following the Staffordshire county cross country championships back in January our athletes Elliot Smith, Nadine Tomkinson, Misha Twardochleb, Elizabeth Clarkson, Lewis Nagington, Jacob Droogmans, Rebecca Twardochleb, Grace Ranford and Lauren Charlton all represented Staffordshire AAA’s. Just like the Nationals last month these races are extremely competitive with only the top 8 athletes from each county being able to run.
In the U/15 Boys 4.5km race Elliot Smith was our sole representative. Having finished 5th at the county championships Elliot was 4th in the Staffordshire pen. Elliot relished the opportunity to race for the county for the first time and ran well over the muddy course finishing in 224th (21.38) and as the 4th Staffordshire runner, helping the team finish in TBC position.
In the U/15 Girls 4km we had Nadine Tomkinson and Misha Twardochleb competing after finishing in 7th and 9th positions respectively at the trial. On this occasion Nadine was our first finisher on her Staffordshire debut in 172nd (22.28) and 5th Staffs, with Misha finishing in 242nd (23.27) and 6th Staffs. The girls helped Staffordshire to finish as 13th team.
In the U/17 Women’s 5km we had Elizabeth Clarkson. Having qualified in 4th place at the Staffs champs Lizzie had a fantastic run in the muddy conditions to finish in 57th (25.04) position overall and as the 1st Staffs finisher. Lizzie lead Staffordshire to finish as TBC Team.
In the U/17 Mens 6km Race we had Lewis Nagington and Jacob Droogmans. Both Lewis and Jacob had below par performances at the Staffs Champs and so were in 7th and 8th positions in the pen. Lewis scythed his way through the field to finish in a fine 89th (23.25) and as 1st Staffs runner. Jacob also worked his way up the field finishing in 216th (25.34). Lewis and Jacob helped the team finish in TBC position.
The U/20 Women’s 6km race saw three of our athletes qualify from the trials, Rebecca Twardochleb (1st), Grace Ranford (5th) and Lauren Charlton (7th). Becky had yet another great run and was the first Staffs finisher in 37th (28.48), Grace and Lauren both moved strongly through the field from start to finish and Grace finished in 99th (31.29 and 3rd Staffs) and Lauren just behind in 108th (31.57 and 5th Staffs). Our three U/20’s helped the Staffs team finish in TBC position. Becky’s run also meant that she has been selected to represent the Midlands U/20’s at the prestigious Home Countries Cross Country International at Nottingham on March 24th – Congratulations from us all Becky.
Fantastic once again to have 9 of our juniors selected to represent Staffordshire AAA’s at these championships (with several others just missing out) – Congratulations to you all and good luck to those representing Staffordshire Schools at the English Schools Championships next weekend.