The Northumberland County Cross Country Championships took place at Temple Park on Tuesday 18 January. Ponteland High School featured prominently as an impressive 30 students were selected to represent the Tynedale area of Northumberland. There were also high individual stakes, with further success at this round qualifying students for a coveted Northumberland Schools vest at the inter-counties next month.
Harry D started the day off with a superb 11th place in the Minor Boys race to qualify for the inter-counties. Joseph A finished 2nd in the gruelling 6.3K Senior Boys race, winning himself a medal and a Northumberland vest. The penultimate boys’ race of the day saw our four Junior boys run with pride and determination over a testing 4K. Elliot K was our final male qualifier of the day. Impressively, Elliot was fresh out of covid isolation but finished a very credible 8th in the highly competitive Inter Boys race!
We had seven runners in the Junior Girls race, demonstrating the strength of this squad. The girls were in fine form, with Erin B (9th), Frances E (10th) and Louisa H (16th); all three qualified for the next round. Lucy M finished 7th in the Inter Girls race, also gaining her Northumberland vest. Our final female finisher of the day was Emma R, our sole representative in the Senior Girls race.
At the Schools Cup in October, none of our Minor girls (Y7) made it past the preliminary rounds. So to get five girls onto the start line of the County Championships was a testament to the improvement in this squad. Exciting times lie-ahead as these girls move into the Junior age-band next season.
