21 March 2018
As a result of some excellent performances at the County Championships seven pupils were selected to represent Oxfordshire at the English Schools National Cross-country Championships, held at Temple Newsam House in Leeds.
The squad members journeyed up the night before to get a restful night's sleep before competing against the best school boy runners in the country. Many top professional athletes such as Sir Mo Farah, the Brownlee Brothers, Dame Kelly Holmes and Paula Radcliffe have cut their teeth at this annual event. This year was no exception with a stacked field of up and coming talent.
The conditions on the day were brutal with a bitterly cold wind and driving snow flurries. The course was truly energy sapping with heart breaking undulations and heavy, muddy conditions underfoot. The boys competed superbly helping Oxfordshire secure the following results:
Junior Boys
Rowan Miell-Ingram – 152nd
Oxfordshire 36th Overall
Intermediate Boys
Alex Pennington 330th
Oxfordshire 42nd Overall
Senior Boys
Calum Steer – 68th (2:28 off the overall leader and 2nd Oxfordshire athlete across the finish line)
David Bunn – 162nd
Fergus Mitchell – 224th
Matthew Kunov – 271st
Henry Barlow – DNF due to injury
Oxfordshire 20th Overall
A massive thank you is also extended to the parents who travelled up with the boys and supported the team.