Youngsters across Sussex gathered in force to compete at the Schools’ Cross Country Champs last week.
More than 720 athletes took part in the races at Waterhall, Brighton, in nearly perfect cross country weather conditions.
Starting the day were the Junior Girls (years 8/9) where Grace Tuesday (Uckfield College) took the top spot followed by Julieana Walsh (Davison) and Ava James (Lewes Old Grammar). It marked another fine run for Grace, who has also won all Sussex AA League matches in her Lewes AC club vest.
Ardingly College were the Junior Girls’ team winners.
Finlay Goodman (Home Educated) cruised to Gold with a convincing lead in the Junior Boys race with Ilya Korchev (St Catherine’s College) in Silver and Raphael Kelly (Cardinal Newman) Bronze. Cardinal Newman won the team Gold.
It had been 2 years since the last Sussex Schools Cross Country Champs where conditions were very different. Weather warnings and brutal wind and rain marked this occasion. Yasmin Kashdan (Tanbridge House School) was third in 2020 as a Junior Girl. Since, the Crawley AC talent has gone from strength to strength and at this year’s event, now as an Inter Girl, she romped home in 1st place. Dulcie Yelling (Varndean School) was second and Stephanie Shaw (Oriel High School) third. Hurstpierpoint College took the team Gold.
Miles Waterworth (Brighton College) and Owen Wallek (Downlands), who are also Brighton Phoenix club team-mates, led the Inter Boys (Years 10/11) pack from early in their race. As they approached the closing stages both boys stretched out with Miles in Gold at the finish and Owen Silver. Luke Newton (Oriel High School) took bronze and Ardingly College the team Gold.
In the Inter Girls (Years 12/13) Gold went to Amelia Cox (Hazlewick), who was 20 seconds clear of Eadie Yelling (Varndean College) in Silver. Lisa Shi, in Bronze, led the Eastbourne College team to Gold.
Eastbourne College athletes continued to display fine form in the Inter Boys race, where Tom Hutton was 1st, Matt Geddes 2nd , and the team won Gold. Henry Yelling (BHASVIC) took the individual Bronze medal.
It was inspirational to see so many young people out competing for their schools in a competition that was staged thanks to Simon Lilley and his Hurst team, along with all the Sussex AA officials.