Six Harriers through to English Schools' Championships (From Leigh Journal)

Six Harriers through to English Schools' Championships

2:51pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in Sport

SIX Leigh Harriers runners have qualified for the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships to be held in Derbyshire in March.

They booked their tickets with fine performances at the weekend when Harriers hosted 500 competitors in the 39th Greater Manchester Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Leigh Sports Village.

Sam Wardle, running for Bolton Schools, achieved second place in the 4.2km junior boys’ race in 16mins 7secs.

Callum McCormick, recovering from an appendix operation, ran well for 21st position in 19mins 5secs.

In the intermediate girls’ race, Leah Peploe made an impressive return to form with third place over the 3.8k course in 15mins 44secs.

The intermediate boys’ race was over a 5.1km course, with James Wardle running himself into a qualification place as he came home seventh in 16mins 7secs.

In the senior girls’ race over 3.8km, Wigan Schools won the team race with Sabrina Walley possibly having her best race of the season to finish third in 16mins 3secs.

Bethany Jones was fifth in 16mins 38secs and Courtney Donald was sixth in 16mins 45secs, with all qualifying for the English Schools.

Georgina Leck, 10th in 17mins 26secs, won a reserve place for the schools’ finals.

Joseph Wane had a good run in the minor boys’ race over 2.4km, crossing the line seventh in 9mins 14secs.

Kristian Wade - after a terrible start which saw him at the back of a field of 64 runners - worked his way through to a respectable 16th spot in 9mins 22secs.

Eve Williams also had a good run over the same course in the minor girls’ race in 10mins 17secs.

In the junior girls’ race over 3.4km, Olivia Stones was 64th in 16mins 16secs and Rebecca Woolley 84th 16mins 54secs.