2016/17 Primary School Cross Country Season report

Firstly, I would like to congratulate all our young athletes who have gone out on cold, wet Saturday mornings and achieved excellent exercise throughout the winter months. 15 of our primary school group have proudly represented their schools at Wythenshawe Park (organised by Manchester Harriers) and Woodbank Park (organised by Stockport Harriers) Cross Countries. In total this group ran 117 races between them! In this day and age they could have been sat at home playing on a games console, they instead chose to do healthy exercise through what is a really tough event. That in itself is the greatest achievement.

The group, throughout the winter, was very severely struck by a virus and some are still suffering with it. I therefor know that our commitment and results in these events, would have been even better than what I am now reporting. Nevertheless, I still want to give credit to Libby, Alexa & Will who managed to complete all 11 races across the two events. Commitment at it's very best.

Due to illness, it goes without saying, that our consistency of performance was very badly effected in many cases and so the following overall results are really quite impressive.

Congratulations from the whole training group go to:

Stockport Harrier Primary School Cross Countries

- William for achieving the Silver medal and Ollie the Bronze medal in the Yr3/4 Boys races and to Mary who achieved Bronze in the Yr5/6 Girls race.

- Alexa(5th), Harvey(7th) and Ava(8th) for achieving top 10 overall positions.

- Grace(12th), Libby(13th), Jack(19th) and Natalie(19th) for achieving top 20 overall positions.

- Poppy(32nd) & Lily(41st) who, as two of our power athletes, ran all 6 races.

Manchester Harrier Primary School Cross Countries

- William who won the Gold medal in the Yr3/4 Boys race.

- Alexa(4th), Ava(5th), Mary(5th), Libby(9th) and Natalie(10th) for achieving top 10 overall places.

- Kate(25th) who competed in her first full Cross Country season as a Year 3.

Can I take this opportunity to thank the coaching and parent groups for helping our young multi-event athletes achieve the above outcomes and more importantly the multitude of benefits that result from doing these events. Our Focus needs to remain on the process that allowed the above to happen. If the process is correct the outcomes will take care of themselves!