Last weekend Chiltern Harriers young athletes took part in the County Schools cross-country championships, and on this occasion they were competing for their local senior school teams. Most were there for the experience and battling to get their School Team into the top places. Some were aiming to earn selection for the County Schools Team and the chance to represent Buckinghamshire at the English Schools Championships, which take place in Liverpool on the 8th March. The weather was good, if a bit chilly, and the course was excellent for cross-country racing.
The Year 7 Boys was a short race run over 1500m and saw a team win for Dr Challoners Grammar School.
In the Junior Boys (years 8 & 9) 4K race first years Dan Barraclough (Misbourne) in 4th place and Jack Dutton (Chesham High) in 5th place continued their great season by showing they can step up and compete with the best in the county in the older age group. Coming back from injury Sonny Harvey (Chesham High) had a good run to finish 8th and helped Jack and his 3 teammates Alex Bond (16th), Peter Illingworth (18th) and Tim Warr (20th) earn Chesham High the Junior Boys Team title. First year George Gillingwater (Dr Challoners GS) continues to improve and had great run to finish in 11th place.
First year Dan Loach (DCGS) had a solid run in the Intermediate Boys (years 10 & 11) 6k race to finish 12th while teammate Alex Shelley (DCGS) had to drop out after his hamstring tightened on the first of three 2k laps.
Full results on Bucks AA website
Hertfordshire Schools Cross-Country Championships at Verulam Park, St Albans on Saturday 2nd February 2008
Three of the Harriers young athletes attend schools in Hertfordshire and enjoyed success at their championships. The Year 7 Boys 2.1k race saw Michael Goddard (St Clement Danes) dominate the race from start to finish and win comfortably by 12 seconds. First year Alex Watson (Ashlyns) produced a good run in the Intermediate Boys (years 10 & 11) 6k race, finishing in 5th place to ensure selection for the Herts County team.
19 year old Matt Bennett travelled north to Cheshire to take part in this high quality 5 mile race with more than 1500 competitors taking the start line. Matt was hoping to break the 26 minute barrier at what is regarded as one of the fastest 5 mile races in the country. However, very windy and cold conditions spoiled those ambitions but he was very satisfied with a new Pb by 14 seconds as he completed the race in 26 mins 20 seconds to place 41st and take the 1st prize for U20's.
U17 Clarice Underwood had to settle for her third successive silver medal in the 60m at these championships in the last 3 years. Having qualified comfortably as a winner in her heat and semi finals, and despite recording a Pb 7.7 seconds, she was pipped by just five hundredths of a second in a very tight finish with the 3rd placer just one hundredth of a second behind. Clarice was beaten by highly ranked Twinnelle Hopeson, 200m gold medallist at last summer's English Schools T&F Championships, who was repeating the result when both were U15's. Clarice had beaten her great rival at last year's indoor championships only to be beaten for gold on that occasion by GB international Asha Philip.
Sam Rogers, also U17, was competing in his first major Indoor Championships and was very pleased with his performances in the 400m. An indoors Pb 54.66 seconds in the first round and second place qualified him for the semi-finals. Another Pb 54.59 seconds earned him 4th place but he just missed out by 3/10ths of a second for a place in the Final.