Greater Manchester Schools XC Champs 2016

Representing Wigan Schools’ and Merseyside Schools, five young Leigh harriers won selection for the English Schools Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park Nottingham, and win Gold, Silver and Bronze at the Greater Manchester Schools Cross Country Championships at Longford Park Manchester on Saturday.

Rain and a waterlogged course greeted the young athletes which included the trials for selection to represent Greater Manchester at the English Schools Cross Country Championships. Seventeen year old Calum McCormick won his first county schools cross country title, competing in the senior boy’s 6.5k four lap race Callum powered around the course judging his race to perfection; he slowly pulled away from the field on the last lap, opening up a hundred meter gap to sprint across the line a very impressive winner against a good class field in a time of 24:50, winning a well-deserved county title and selection to the English Schools cross country championships.

Callum McCormick winner of Senior Men’s GM XC Champs 2016 with Coach Joe.

Leighs’ second champion of the day went to thirteen year old Keely Hodgkinson whose return to form over the last few weeks continues with a sparkling run in the Junior Girls race; over a 3.3 two lap course Keeley – always with the leading pack of eight runners – slowly built up the pace to finally open up a twenty meter winning gap, crossing the line an impressive winner in a time of 13:42 to add the Junior Girls title to her already impressive list.

Keely Hodgkinson Winner of the Jnr Girls Greater Manchester XC Champs 2016.

Joanna Smith was in 44^th place 15:48 and Katie Morley 47^th 16:01 the Wigan team winning 3^rd team place.

In the Intermediate boys race over a 5k three lap course, Kristian Wade battled his way through to the English Schools Cross Country Championships; running bottom age for the first time in a very tight race for team place twelve athletes were in contention for most of the race. Kristian forced himself into the last qualification place with a late surge for the line into 8^th place in 19:8. Joseph Senior ran himself into the team counters for the team in 21^st place 21:21 helping the Wigan team into silver medal position.

Eve Williams won her way through to her second English Schools final with a determined run in the girls Intermediate 4.1 k two lap race; persistent rain made the course very difficult for the athletes but Eve showed strength of character to win a hard fought 8^th place in 18:21 winning selection for the second year running.

Running in the Merseyside Schools Championships at Arrow Park fifteen year old Jacob Briscoe ran himself on to the Merseyside schools team with a good run in the 5k Intermediate boy’s race on a testing undulating course Jacob was 7^th in a time of 22:19 to win selection for his first schools final.

Back in the GM, in the junior boys race over 4.1k Josef Short ran well for 24^th place 17:41, Joel Denton 37^th 18:11, Nathan Myers 55^th 19:17 and Lucas White 62^nd 20:33.

Leigh had two runners in the year 7 races, Jessica Barlow was the first counter in for the Wigan team in 22^nd place in a time of 12:12 for the 2.5k course, whilst Josh White ran well in the boy’s race in 27^th place 11:20.