WMYA XC League (12/01/2020)

Sam Hale provides her detailed view on the event and the racing.

"Sunday saw us at the Pingles Stadium Nuneaton for the penultimate round of the West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League. It’s been a while since we raced here on this flat, fast course. It was muddy underfoot, with very narrow sections, tight corners and the odd lamppost to add interest. Overall team results saw us finish 9th of 20th teams.

Racing kicked off with the under 17 women, great running from Bella Fantom 18th, Holly Graham 19th and Katie Bevan 23rd.  All improving on their placings from the last race.  5th team.

Team Captain Jake Harding was our sole under 11 boy. He gave it his all to finish in a very pleasing 22nd place (2 places up) in a field of 95.

We fielded a small team of 3 in the under 17 men. Really strong running from Sunny Dhaliwal 24th and Michael Banks 29th. (8 place improvement) Commiserations to Alex Parker who had to pull out with an injury. Team 7th

We only had two under 11 girls out this time but what a pair. Spectacular running from Mia Fantom for 7th (5 places up) closely followed by Layla Williams 10th (4 places up) Well done girls. Team 12th.

Just three under 15 boys today for the two big laps. Cameron Lomax (finishing with a migraine in 29th, Ben Lucas 41st and Sam Richards 64th, all working really hard. Good running lads. Team 11th.

It was a clean sweep for Wolves and Bilston in the under 13 girls with them taking the first 5 places. Sarah Dudley was first back for Tipton in 39th, Shaya Anais-Lewis looking like she really enjoyed it was 43rd (16 place improvement), Sophie Brookes back from illness was 68th , Lily Packer was 76th and Macy O’Donoghue in a race for the line was 93rd. Fantastic girls. Team 10th.

The under 13 boys’ race was very exciting with Klay Fellows leading for almost the whole race, a brilliant run saw him finish 3rd, followed by Tom Lucas running really well for 10th. A brilliant finish for Will Evans for 20th, Elliott Boden was 50th, Thomas Hynes–Oughton -- straight off the plane from Australia was 5th counter in 77th place.  Good running from Ben Marsh 87th and Mark Aston 94th. Fantastic team effort lads for 5th place. Currently 3rd in the series.

Last up were our very impressive under 15 girls, what an impressive team they’ve become. Great running from Jade Charlton on her least favourite course for 15th, hot on her heels Rosa Shadforth-Groucutt 21st (14 places up), Alex Westbury 29th, Jessie Walker 30th, Evie Tromans returning to form 32th (10 places up), Sophie Banks 43rd, Amelia Harrison 44th and Mya Woodward 54th. You were all fantastic girls. Team 2nd and 2nd in the series."

Results