Exciting races at long-standing inter-schools cross-country race in Coventry
A one-second victory in the girls’ race and a new course record in the boys’ event led to a tumultuous day of racing at the biggest school relay of the year on Wednesday (Feb 1), James Taylor reports.
In the context of dwindling numbers on the school circuit, that this most famous race saw its highest standards in a generation is encouraging, perhaps an early impact of the new Senior Schools’ Cup. The trailblazers remain the Judd boys, unbeaten domestically since 2019, but with a pesky asterisk against last year’s triumph here in Coventry, second to a controversially disqualified Abingdon sextet.
This year they blitzed the opposition with a stunning 69:05, which, accounting for a 16sec per leg penalty for the 1991 course shortening, was well under the 71:17 previous mark held by local rivals Skinners’ from the golden era of distance running. On this evidence, guest of honour Neil Appleby will not have to wait much longer for his 43-year-old individual record (10:50) to also be improved.
Conditions and shoe technology played their part. Even a decade ago, the majority of runners would wear spikes around this multi-terrain loop, but recent improvements to the tarmac perimeter path raises the ceiling of the new ‘super-shoes’. On a dry day such as this one, any time lost tiptoeing through the early woods section is more than gained on the remaining course. Even the cold breeze, lamented by ill-equipped spectators, did not trouble the athletes, as much of the course is well-sheltered by trees lining the park.
The boys’ first leg here usually builds to a well-contested burn-up. This year was a little different as Ethan Brady Jones of St Anselm’s took it on at half-way to return in 11:11, clear of a small chase group containing the recognisable podium-chasing vests of Calday Grange, Abingdon and Shrewsbury. Judd had Huxley Crush, on paper their weakest of the six, finish safely over half a minute in arrears.
St Anselms’ last won this event in 2007 – remarkably the last time Judd had not finished in the top three – and Oberon Kearney maintained the lead on leg two with an 11:45 clocking. But this was as good as it got for the frontloading Merseysiders, who slipped back as the race went on. Loreto College, confusing spectators with a lack of clear team kit, also showed prominently through Ethan Nation (11:35), but then similarly dropped back. Just behind,…
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