Woodbridge School Cross Country Athletes Secure National Podium Result
On Saturday 24 November, Woodbridge School hosted the 38th Final of the England Schools Athletic Association Cross Country Cup. This was the first time in the history of the competition that the final had been hosted in Suffolk.
The Cross Country Cup is a team competition open to athletes in Years 7 to 10 across all schools in England. To reach any of the four races at the final, each of the 27 teams have had to qualify by finishing in the top three of their County Round and then in the top three in one of nine Regional events. Years 7 and 8 compete in the Junior Category with Years 9 and 10 as Inters. With six athletes representing each school and the first four across the line scoring, each race featured 162 of the best young cross country athletes in England. And Woodbridge School qualified for the finals for the third year in succession, this time with both the Inter Girls and the Inter Boys vying for honours on their home course.
The weather, course and enthusiastic helpers and local crowd made for a spectacular day: Woodbridge Inter Girls were in the first race and our athletes ran well above expectation to finish a magnificent 13th, up from 23rd last year and 19th in 2016. In particular, April ran a brilliant race amongst the lead pack to finish an exceptional fifth. Our Inter Boys were in the fourth and final race, a race which started at a ferocious pace. As the miles unfolded it was obvious that Kit was moving through the pack, running the race of his young life and Charlie and George were fighting their way impressively into the top 20. Kit continued to progress, powering into the individual medal positions on the hills to finish an unbelievable second. With Charlie 12th, George 15th and Henry giving his all to close the team out in 67th, everyone wondered whether a podium was possible…
The final result: Woodbridge School finished an astonishing third to stand on the podium for the second time in three years. This was an outstanding achievement at a National level for this group of young athletes.
None of this is achieved without the support of a wider group of Woodbridge School athletes, as well as staff and parents, so we offer an enormous vote of thanks, and congratulations, to everyone who contributed to such a memorable day.
Full results on the day were :
Inter Girls :
April 5th
Amy 64th
Molly 74th
Jess 76th
Bea 101st
Anna 122nd
Inter Boys:
Kit 2nd
Charlie 12th
George 15th
Henry 67th
Edward 132nd
Tom 141st
