Runners prove class acts in city meeting
WALBOTTLE Campus hosted the Newcastle Schools’ CrossCountry Championships in cold but dry conditions.
As well trying to become city champions the runners were also hoping to gain entry to the County Championships - with only the top 16 due to be selected.
In the first race of the day, the minor boys’ race (year seven), Tom Blane of Newcastle School for Boys flew off from the gun and it looked as though he had gone off too fast.
However, he kept up his incredible pace and if anything was still pulling away at the finish from the second-placed finsher, Noah Curran of St Cuthbert’s.
Joseph Hudspith of Gosforth East Middle School was a further 30 metres back.
Despite not having anybody in the top three, Royal Grammar took the team title ahead of Dame Allan’s.
Pre-race favourite Ethan McGlen of St Cuthbert’s showed his class, overcoming recent illness and injuries to take the junior boys’ title from his great rival Kieran Mutch of Dame Allan’s.
Will Collinson of Dame Allan’s took third place and with two in the top three Dame Allan’s lifted the team title from Royal Grammar.
In the intermediate boys’ race (years 10 and 11 ), Dan Melling of Dame Allan’s pulled away from Charlie McMillan of Gosforth Academy on the first big lap to open up a 15-metre gap and was able to keep the same distance to the end to become champion.
Jake Rossman of Royal Grammar was further back in third place.
Royal Grammar secured the team prize from Gosforth by two points.
In the minor girls’ race, Caitlin Flanagan of Sacred Heart took an early lead with Faye Landless of Kenton just behind her.
By the second lap it was Laura Cottee of Royal Grammar who had forged ahead to finish 30 metres ahead of Flanagan - Landless a further 30 metres behind in third place.
Royal Grammar captured the team title ahead of Newcastle School for Girls.
The junior girls’ race was the highlight of the day due to a great tussle between Olivia Kantony of Newcastle School for Girls and Ines Curran of Sacred Heart.
They both went off quickly and soon pulled away from the rest of the field.
Curran forced the pace throughout the opening two laps - but Kantony would not give her inch and just sat on her shoulder all the way around.
Going into the last small loop with 200 metres to go it looked as though Kantony was going to go past Curran and win with a sprint finish.
Curran had other ideas, though, and began to increase the pace with 100 metres to go and she gradually opened the gap up to two and then five metres.
At the end she had established a ten-metre gap to become champion.
Kantony was a gallant second and Kate Salthouse of Royal Grammar clinched third place.
Royal Grammar sealed the team prize from Newcastle School for Girls.
The intermediate girls’ race was a lot more clear-cut.
Ellen Matheson of Heaton Manor took an early lead and never relinquished it.
Lily Shaw of Gosforth Academy tried to go with her but was dropped early and had to settle for second place.
With four in the first five, it was no surprise Gosforth Academy won the team title.