Many TEL athletes contributed to their School’s success at the East Lothian Secondary Schools Cross-Country Championship.  On what was a sunny but bitterly cold day at Foxlake Adventures, 181 students from 6 East Lothian secondary schools competed in the team event, with the top 4 runners from each school gaining points, and penalty points given for an incomplete team. Dunbar Grammar School was the overall winner for the third year in a row with second place going to Preston Lodge High School and third to North Berwick High School, followed by Ross High School, Musselburgh Grammar School and Knox Academy.

In the S1 girls race Grace Harley (TEL – NBHS) took the win, second for Libby Duke (RHS) and third Rudie Shearer (TEL – KA).  In the boys’ race, Corey Campbell (TEL – DGS) took the win with Logan Jenson (RHS) second and Aiden Page (TEL – DGS) third.

In the S2 girls race Katie Johnson (EAC – PLHS) took the win, second for Niamh Richards (TEL – DGS) and third Lucy Thomson (TEL – DGS).  For the boys’ race Angus Wright (TEL – NBHS) took the win with Morgan Laird (DGS) second and Kyle Campbell (DGS) third.

In the S3 girls race Bridget Harley (TEL – NBHS) took the win with Niamh Scally (RHS) second and Claudia White (DGS) third.  For the boys’ race Ryley Farmer (NBHS) too the win with Jack Clark (DGS) and Ewen Robertson (RHS) third.

In the Seniors’ girls race Cera Gemmell (TEL – NBHS) took the win, Esme Callander (TEL – NBHS) second and Ellie Richards (DRC – DGS) thirds.  For the senior boys’ race Joe Donnelly (TEL – NBHS) took the win, Fraser Kelly (TEL – DGS) second and Cameron Bullen (TEL – DGS) third.

Highlight of the day for spectators and fellow pupils was the closely contested senior boys’ race.  From a slow start, Fraser Kelly quickly took control of the pace and dragged out the field over the testing course.  But, by the closing stages it was only Fraser Kelly, Joe Donnelly and Cameron Bullen left in contention and, with fellow pupils showing their vocal support for all, it was Donnelly who took the win in a fiercely fought sprint finish.

East Lothian Athletics Development Officer, Lynda Gilroy said, “the turnout and enthusiasm from the schools was fantastic and is a testament to how popular and well supported athletics is in East Lothian.”