24 March 2022
On Saturday a group of Abingdon pupils travelled with the Oxfordshire team to compete in the English Schools Cross-Country Championships. Held at Hop Farm in Kent, the course was firm and flat making for some fast racing on a day that was bathed in sunshine.
The competition brings together the best running talent in the country with each team made up of 8 athletes that have qualified through county trial races. Punching well above their weight compared to some of the larger counties, Oxfordshire recorded some outstanding results, seeing them place inside the top 10 in two of the age categories. A feat that hasn’t happened since 1994!
In the Junior race M.Salmon placed 138th/330, helping the team finish in 8th place. In the Intermediate race Q.Miell-Ingram finished an incredible 14th/325. O.Sherratt placed 250th/325 and still has another year to run in this category. The team finished in 21st overall.
In the senior race R.Miell-Ingram toed the line against his fiercest competition, with many of them having received representative honours already this year. The race didn’t disappoint and was fast and furious from the gun. Rowan rounded out his tremendously successful cross country-season in 4th/291. Fresh off the plane from Canada having spent time training with the British winter Biathlon group, W.d’Arcy started the race strongly but unfortunately had to withdraw at the half way mark through illness. The senior boys placed in 7th overall.
Full results can be found here.