Sarah Palmer, 17, has clinched the gold medal in the sixth form category of the Plymouth Schools Cross Country Championships held in Staddiscombe.
Leading from the start, Sarah increased her lead to finish a good 20 seconds ahead of the second-placed runner. Susie Kellagher was 7th in the same race and Kosuke Takeuchi was 9th in the sixth form boys’ event. All three qualify for the South West Area Championships.
Sarah, who earlier this year took the Youth A Girls British Pentathlon Championships title, and Susie, are part of the Plymouth College Modern Pentathlon Progamme. As well as running, the programme includes swimming, fencing, shooting and horse riding.
In the Year 10/11 category, Poppy Le Marechal took the bronze medal with Georgie Barrington finishing in 15th place. Both girls are modern pentathletes and have also qualified for the South West event.
Further South West qualifiers are Emily Dinnis (another modern pentathlete), who came 8th in the Year 8/9 girls’ category and Dominic Day, who came 10th in the Year 8/9 boys’ event.
“Our runners did really well and I’m delighted that Sarah and Poppy came away with medals”, said teacher in charge of running, Phil Cragg. “The weather was good but windy and although the ground was muddy it wasn’t too bad. We’re now looking forward to the South West Championships, which will probably be in February.”
Photograph: Sarah Palmer and Poppy Le Marechal
