English Schools’ Cross Country Championships

WOLLATON Park, Nottingham, was the venue for the English Schools’ Cup Cross Country event. Harlow AC member, and St Mark’s pupil, George Watkins was selected in the Junior Boys’ team. Junior Boys’ brings together school years eight and nine, so Watkins was in the younger end of the group. Nevertheless, he was first Essex athlete home in seventeenth position. Watkins has had an exceptional season for both his club and school throughout the cross country season.

Hertfordshire Indoor Championships

Lee Valley played host to a tri-county event bringing together Hertfordshire, Middlesex and Kent for three individual championships. Harlow club members straddle the border with Hertfordshire and some qualify for Hertfordshire events. Four athletes took part over this weekend.

On Saturday, it was middle distance events. Harlow had two competitors in action, Thomas Graham and Isla Garrett. Both were competing at U15 level. Garrett was fifth in the seven athlete field in her race. Graham, running his first indoor event, won in a time of 2.26 minutes. He paced his race well, staying in contention in the breakaway group of three, and began to exert pressure in the last lap and a half of the 200m oval. He won with a good gap and going away from the field.

On Sunday, two competitors took part in sprint events. Nissi Onofowokan was in 60m action, at Under 17 level. Eilidh Malcolm was in the Senior Women’s 400m. Onofowokan ran a new PB time, 8.46s for second. A name to note is that of winner, Tiana Rizzo.

Her time of 7.76s puts her in the higher echelons of current British women’s sprinting. It will be interesting to see if she can translate short track speed to the 100m in the outdoor season. Eilidh Malcolm ran the 400m in a race that combined both U20 and Senior Women. Malcolm was third in the race and first Senior woman home. Her time was 66s.