Thomas Chadwick dominated the London Schools XC race at the Scrubs last Wednesday to win with a big margin. Thomas is in form having started 2024 with a win at the Middlesex County Championships at Greenford. Thomas is comfortable in muddy conditions- there was another victory at the North West London League on the Extensions. But he has also shown versatility clocking a 15.22 Parkrun at Dulwich at the end of last year which ranked him nationally 5th for 2023.
Also representing London Schools at Pontefract for the English Schools Championships will be Harris Austin. Like Thomas he won the selection race in the Inter Boys age group. Harris had a cracking run at the South of England Champs, overhauling Thomas and being the 1st Harrier home in 16th place.
Sonny Allen who with an August birthday is one of the youngest to qualify for English Schools after a very competitive race in the Junior Girls. At half way she was in a group of 4, 2 athletes having broken away. She kept her head, found some traction in the mud and ended up with a well deserved 3rd place. Another youngster and newcomer Alexandra O’Brien was running in the B race which is held for year 7s and any year 8s who don't make their school’s A team. Alexandra finished 2nd and will surely be on the London Team next year.
As the leagues come to a close, there are still major races to tackle including the Nationals at Telford this weekend. Thomas, Harris and Sonny will be joined by Felix Kent (3rd at Middlesex Schools last week) and Liam Bailey at the Inter- Counties in Nottingham (for athletes selected to represent Middlesex). Good luck to all these athletes and any who ought to be included in this report (and apologies for them being overlooked. In mitigation, information from Middlesex Schools is scant!)