The beginning of the Cross-Country season proved to be a very successful affair for King’s Ely pair Hollie Parker and Rebecca Daniel in their respective County Events.
Hollie competed in the Under 20’s Girls’ event for her club, Cambridge and Coleridge, at a cold and foggy Prior Park in St Neots. Hollie ran well in her first Cross-Country event of the season to take the silver medal, which enabled her club to finish in gold medal position in the Team Event.
Rebecca also ran for her club team, West Suffolk AC, at Ickworth Park where the weather conditions were bright and sunny but crisp under foot. Rebecca, a year young for the Under 15’s event, ran an excellent tactical race sitting behind the leader for the majority of the event but using her strength and pace to great effect in the closing stages to take gold in an exciting finish. Rebecca’s first place ensured that West Suffolk AC took home the Team Gold above a talented Ipswich Harriers outfit.
Rebecca’s victory qualifies her to race in the Virgin London Mini Marathon in April, in which she will race the County Champions from the rest of the UK over the last three miles of the London Marathon course on the morning of the main event.
Head of Athletics, Richard Powell, commented, “’Rebecca Daniel continues to progress as an all-round athlete and her victory was most encouraging. Hollie Parker, though not 100 per cent fit, ran a fine race. Both girls could have an excellent cross country term in preparation for the Athletics season”.
A team of junior athletes also took part in the Cambridgeshire event, all performing creditably, with Connor Marshall, Y5, finishing in a commendable 4th place in the Under 11 race.