Eighteen junior members of Thanet Roadrunners contested the Kent Cross Country Championships at Brands Hatch last Saturday and there were plenty of medals for the young squad.
Jake Stevens ran a confident, tactical race, powering away at the finish to win the U13 boys’ county title. It was a fitting reward for Stevens, who enjoyed a fine Kent League season before Christmas, improving with every race. A fifth-place finish from Louis Procopi and solid runs too from Riley Maisey and Franklin Shepherd gave the club Bronze in the four-to-score team championship.
With only three-to-score in the corresponding girls’ race, Natalia Austin, Lola Sutton and Millie Dack – second, third and eighth respectively – earned team Silver. Those three all gained County vests over the winter after a string of consistent league performances.
Jenny Swandale in sixth led the U15 girls to a Bronze medal finish, with Amy Goodhand and Isobel Tyler the other two scorers for the Roadrunners. Rowan Tyler and Dylan Leach contested the U15 boys’ event and the latter will race again on Sunday at the Minnis Bay leg of the Kent Fitness League, a competition in which he is currently joint-leader.
Looking ahead, the junior squad will represent their school districts at the Kent Schools’ Championship on January 19, and the following weekend, a large contingent will travel to London for the South of England Championships at Parliament Hill.