It was another bumper year for Sussex School's cross-country running when the Championships were held at the Waterhall course in Brighton on Wednesday.
Although it was probably the coldest day so far this year the non-stop sunshine was almost perfect for the runners though underfoot the hard ground became a little slippery as the afternoon progressed.
The sunshine however did not produce much heat and it was a bitterly cold afternoon for the officials.
County U13 champion Bethany Cook (Moira House) set the stage for the afternoon’s racing when she took complete control of the opening race the Junior (U15) girl’s event. Like her sisters before her who have all won this title she likes forcing the pace and most of her runs, particularly in Sussex, result in a solitary run at the front of the field. County U15 champion Maya Ramnarine (Robertsbridge) was unable to match her pace and Cook eventually crossed the finishing line some forty metres to the good in 11:24 with a similar distance separated second from third though Lois Dooley (Shoreham Academy) had a mighty battle with her younger schoolmate, Rebecca Losh before filling the bronze medal position with 12;15 to 12:15.
Robertsbridge won the team title with 74 points to Roedean’s 115 and Kings School’s 122.
The reverse was the case in the Junior Boys event where Callum Stone (Sackville) led for much of the early stages of the race before Isaac Elam (Hastings Academy) stormed through for victory in16:00 to Stone’s 16:09 and Brighton Colleges Will Carey who clocked 16:17.
Brighton College took the team title with 85 points to Cardinal Newman’s 89 and Downlands’s 104.
Reigning Intermediate (U17) and County U17 champion Almi Nerurkar (Brighton & Hove High) was quite content to run with the leading pack for much of the first lap but once she had made her mind up there was no one going to head her again and she romped away to a comfortable victory over Seaford College’s Olivia MacDonald, the reigning Junior champion, in 13:19 to 13:27 with another first time inter, Maia Hardman (Lewes Old Grammar) who clocked 14:01 in third place.
The team title went to Bishop Luffa with 61 points to Steyning’s 70 and Brighton College’s 78.
A mishap in the Intermediate boy’s race almost certainly cost Varndean’s Thomas Eames the crown.
At the end of the first lap Eames was a good thirty metres clear and running well when he was directed the wrong way.
Sportingly Will Broom (Bishop Luffa) was able to shout to him and he turned and retraced his steps but by that time he was back in third place and he was not able to peg back the lost ground. It was Broom who took the title in 21:04 from Tomer Tarragano (Brighton College) who clocked 21:17 with Eames having to settle for third place in 21:31.
Brighton College won the team race with 59 points from Bishop Luffa and Forest School’s 92.
The senior (U19) races went very much as anticipated with Grace Wills (Bishop Luffa) striding more than one minute clear of Brighton College’s Emma Gill and Storm Graham in 18:27 with Gill clocking 19:30 and Graham 19:44 and Brighton College taking the team title with 28 points to Burgess Hill’s 53 points.
The was another runner-a-way victory in the senior boys race with Heathfield’s Dan Stidder, who had won the County U20 title a couple of weeks back galloping away from Brighton College’s Brodie Denholm to win in 26:23 to 26;57 with Ollie Johnson (BHASVIC) recording 27:43 in third place.
Brighton College took their third team title of the afternoon with 45 points to Worth College’s 70 and Lancing Colleges 112 points.
Unfortunately some leading Sussex runners did not run as their schools did not enter them and in some case the current virus prevented them competing.
However Judy Lasis, the County Schools Chair has released the following statement: if you were unable to run at the Sussex Schools Cross Country Championship yesterday and want to be considered for selection to represent Sussex Schools AA at the English Schools Championships, then email Judy Lasis, Chair SSAA hkbears@icloud.com stating why you were not at the Championships yesterday, date of birth, which race you should have been in, your school and where you feel, on current form, you would have finished in your race had you been there, only those who should have made the top 8 need email.
If you have any queries or want more information regarding this post, please Email Reg Hook.