Record Turnout for Cross Country League.
Cross country has a reputation for wind and rain but it was another glorious sunny afternoon for the second round of the Shropshire Star sponsored Shropshire Young Athletes League. It was a record turn out with nearly 200 athletes taking part at Oswestry school fields and the dry weather had made the conditions really hard and fast.
The first race of the day was the Under 11 girls and although the start is uphill the forty runners set off very quickly indeed. The hilly course was just over a mile and the winner Jess Humphries completed the distance in 6 minutes and 8 seconds. She was caught up near the finish by Isobel Boden of Wenlock Olympians but pulled away to take the victory in the last 300 metres. Sadie Craig of Telford AC took third and was given the same time as fast finishing Lucy Elcock of Bridgnorth who looks to be an athlete for the future. Wenlock Olympians took a surprise team victory form Telford with Wrekin College Triathletes third,
The under 11 boys set off even faster over the same mile distance and it was local athlete Jacob Tidridge who took the honours finishing 7 seconds ahead of Harry Bower of Shrewsbury in 5 minutes 42 seconds. Harry’s team mate William Davies came in third with Alex Veitch of Wrekin College Triathlon fourth. Shrewsbury are fighting back in the team event in this age group beating Telford AC by the large margin of 27 points and making the team event wide open.
The under 15 ‘s and under 17’s start off together and its not until the first of the small laps that the field divides and you can see who is winning the younger age group. In the girls race last times winner Lauren Pestana of Telford AC rushed to the front hoping to build a good lead closely followed by Isabel Bradley of Telford AC. Isabel, an England international, took the lead once the course split and ran away very strongly from her younger rival and team mate Danni Rawlinson. The next two places were filled by Alex Cawthra and Chloe Evans of Maldwyn Harriers with Emma Clarke of Ludlow rapidly improving in fifth. Meanwhile two other Ludlow runners had caught Lauren and started to pull away on the last of the three laps in the Under 17 category. Megan Lloyd winning in 17-08 with Eilish Gilbert second Lauren third in 18-01 with Ellie Bryan making a welcome return in fourth.
The Under 15 and Under 17’s boys set off at a gentler pace as the older athletes know they had nearly 20 minutes of running in front of them. There was a turn round in places with Joe Morris of Oswestry beating Josh Burrows of Telford AC but Joe had to settle for second again as Jimmy Kershaw ran away on the last lap to win by 14 seconds. Triathlete Macauley Carline finished strongly in fourth. Oswestry won the team event easily form Telford and the team event looks very competitive moving into the third of four fixtures. The Under 15 race saw two Telford AC athletes dominate Alex Burrows and Jack Forrester. Jack seems to be getting closer with every race and on this occasion Alex won by 4 seconds. Telford took the team award but Ludlow runners are moving up with a strong team finish in second.Freddie Fielding raced away from the start in the Under 13 boys race. He is a Telford AC runner but was running for his school in this race his time of 11-02 was exceptional and he was 39 seconds clear of Joseph Crutchley of Maldwyn Harriers in second with Cameron Van Onselen of Oswestry third. Packwood finished 4 runners in the frost eleven and took the team, hosts Oswestry second and last meeting winners Telford back in 5th .
The last race of the day was the Under 13 girls and with 42 runners it was the largest field of the day. Lasts year Eva Wade of Telford AC was directed off course, but this year there were no such problems and she covered the two lap course in exactly seven minutes to win from Katherine Smith of Shrewsbury and Ellie Sykes of Shrewsbury High School third. Telford AC claimed the team award with Shrewsbury High just ten points behind.
The next fixture is hosted by Wenlock Olympians at William Brookes School on Sunday 13th November.
Colin Lancaster
