Shrewsbury AC has a new National Champion
07 Mar 2024
Saturday 2nd March was the day when some of our athletes attended the Independent schools association (ISA) national cross county championships in Worksop. The athletes were running for their schools and had to finish in the top 10 of their regional qualifiers last month in order to make it to the national championships.
We had three runners in the Yr 5&6 girls race and they all did themselves proud.
In this race last year Roni Kohring was leading all the way up until the last metre and had she had know she was being chased home, would have probably held on for national glory as a Yr5. This year as a more mature Yr6 and with strict instructions to run through the finish line she did just that! Roni pretty much lead the race from gun to tape, putting the icing on the cake of a fantastic XC season.
Top step of the podium…National ISA Champion- Roni Kohring.!
We’ve been a part of Roni’s journey for the last few years and she has developed in to one of the nations leading junior athletes. What a great achievement!
Next home for SAC was Lucy Hardcastle who finished 12th. Lucy is a formidable runner and is often seen showing the competition a clean set of heels in the national fell circuit. We are so proud of Lucy for battling and finishing in a great position. Both Lucy and Roni will be moving up to the U13 age group with a whole load of extremely talented runners and they are going to be a match for almost any team in the nation this season.
Finally our third and final runner home in 19th was Norah Kohring. Norah is a Yr 5 and a younger Yr 5, and to mix it up with the the big kids is just a little bit amazing. Norah has gone from strength to strength this year and age for age she is a little bit quicker than Roni at the junior parkrun (not trying to create a rivalry) Maybe she will have her eyes on the JW10 record at the Shrewsbury JPR which is currently shared by Roni and Beth Trow. This won’t be easy as the time is one of the best times in the UK, but you wouldn’t want to bet against Norah getting it.
Emma-Jayne Charman was next up in the Yr8 & 9 race and again proved why she is right up there at the top by coming in 22nd. Emma-Jayne has gone from strength to strength this year and has peaked at the right time. Emma-Jayne is a Yr 8, so competing in a race which will predominantly be Yr 9s and coming away with a great position is an amazing result.
Amazing running today girls. Absolute superstars!
Here are some photos taken at the event from family and friends. In one photo, Roni is with Seb Palmer who won the Yr6 boys race. Seb is an amazing talent also from the Midlands.
Report and pics provided by the Junior XC team
