Tamworth Athletic Club

14^th September 2024, Weston Park, Telford

The junior athletes of Tamworth AC had some unfinished business to deal with before kicking off their 2024/25 cross country season next month.

Last season’s national championships was postponed back in February due to flooding at the venue and finally got underway at Weston Park near Telford last weekend. In rather unusual warm, dry conditions for cross country Tamworth fielded an all-female team across the junior age groups.

First up in the Under-17 Women’s race, Jessica Salt gave a preview of what to expect in the coming season with an impressive top-50 finish, taking 46^th place amongst the best in the country.

The Under-13 Girls race saw Robyn Edwards put in a solid performance for 123^rd place. Freya Armitage wasn’t far behind in 137^th place to mark her first appearance at the Nationals in style. Sadly, Evie Edmead had a tougher debut with a recurring injury disrupting her race, but she continued bravely to cross the finish line.

Finally for the Under-15 Girls, the Tamworth threesome of Isla Rogers, Lacey Bailey and Lucy Hornby ran the opening stages with nothing to separate them. But as the race ran on the gaps started to open up with Rogers taking the line in 151^st place, followed in quick succession by Lacey Bailey in 163^rd and Lucy Hornby in 166^th.

After the championships, Team Manager, Ben Evans said: “Our athletes have done extremely well today. Nobody expects to be running the Nationals in September and so soon after the track and field season, but they didn’t let it show and just got on with the job in hand. I’m proud of them all and looking forward to a the new season getting underway at Walsall in October.”