A record number of runners completed the Sussex Schools Cross Country Championships in cold and icy conditions at Waterhall on Tuesday.
Nearly 900 runners, 402 girls and 462 boys, finished the race, making it the biggest field yet this century.
The recent freezing weather had made the ground hard and difficult decisions over spike size had to be made.
The closest battle came in the Senior Boys race at the end of the day where Miles Waterworth (Brighton College) made a last dash sprint to the line to beat Alexander Riley (Cardinal Newman) clocking 26.24 and 26.25 respectively. They finished well clear of BHASVIC’s Owen Wallek (27.02).
Luke Newton (The College of Richard Collyer) comfortably took fourth place in 27.36 to make sure of his place in the in the Sussex Schools team for the English Championships as the first four runners get automatic selection for the team.
BHASVIC and Bexhill College both scored 45 points but the team title went to BHASVIC as it had a higher placing first runner.
Stephanie Shaw (The College of Richard Collyer) was victorious in the Senior Girls’ race, who start with the boys but split off midway as do not run as far as the boys.
Shaw’s time was 16.07 while Eloise Hudson (Seaford College) recorded 16.14 in second. Eleanor Strevens (Claremont Senior) 16.30 and Rae Le Fay (Bexhill College) 16.38 were third and fourth, with Hurstpierpoint College (68 points) taking the team title.
In the Inter Boys race, Finlay Goodman (Home Educated) clocked 20.24, an impressive 48 seconds ahead of Lucas Gorrill (Eastbourne College) 21.12 and Thomas Matthews (Hove Park School) 21.18. Twin brother Freddie Matthews (Hove Park School) 21.30 was fourth.
The winning team in this age category were the four scoring boys from Priory School, who notched just 43 points, the lowest total of the day.
Ava James (Lewes Old Grammar) 13.13 took the top spot in the Inter Girls. Daisy Connor (St Catherine’s College) and Freda Pearce (The Cavendish) were first and second in the Junior Girls last year. They stepped up the age group nicely this year coming second and third in 13.33 and 13.39. Alice Cox (Hazlewick) 13.46 was fourth.
The team from Cardinal Newman scored 177 points collectively for gold.
Rattan School’s Fin Lumber Fry ran a very calm and relaxed race to win the Junior Boys’ race in 15.17 ahead of George Gilbert (Shoreham College) 13.33. It was battle for third and fourth with Michael O’Connor (Ardingly) clocking 15.30 and Jonah Messer (The Cavdendish) 15.32.
Gildredge House were the team gold medallists.
There was no surprise in the Junior Girls race where county starlet Isabella Buchanan (The Buckswood School) 11.39 was first. Two unknown runners in Sussex athletics were second and third. Florence Goodwin (Great Walstead) 11.56 and Elizabeth Hutchinson (Claverham Community College) 12.05. In fourth was Katherine Haslip (Roedean) 12.06.
Hurstpierpoint College took a second team gold with 112 points.