THE Avon Schools’ and Midland Cross Country Championships were the two major events in January while the indoor season moved up a gear to give our local athletes plenty of opportunities to shine in the Easy Runner/Bristol Evening Post athlete of the month competition.
The short list of candidates is published below and the winner will be revealed in Saturday’s Evening Post.
REBECCA BARLOW: The 16-year-old Westbury Harrier ran a really gutsy race to win the bronze medal at her first attempt in the senior girls’ race at the Avon Schools’ CCC. Then ended the month with 33rd in the Under 20 women’s race at the Midland CCC.
ZAK TOBIAS: A month of contrasting fortunes for the 15-year-old Bristol & West AC runner, who opened with a decent ninth place in the McCain Cardiff Cross Challenge but was then a below-par eight in the inter boys’ race at the Avon Schools’ Championships. Tobias, though, saved his best until last producing the best run of his young life to end the month on a high with a coveted bronze medal in the Under 17 men’s race at the Midland CCC.
VICTORIA KENNY: Unlucky to be up against two of the best girls in the country in Olivia Sadler and Aoife Thorogood the 14-year-old Clifton College student focused on her own race and beat some very good runner to claim the bronze medal in the inter girls’ race at the Avon Schools’ Cross Country Championships.
YANNICK BUDD: The 18-year-old sprint hurdler has enjoyed a terrific month twice beating his personal best in the 60m hurdles and on both occasions improving the Bristol & West AC club record. Budd clocked 8.79secs at the Bath Open then improved to 8.69secs to win the event at the Welsh Open Championships.
EMMA SMITH: The 15-year-old Backwell School athlete, who also competes for North Somerset AC, impressed with her victory in the speed bounce to win the Under 15 girls’ athlete of the match at the Avon Schools’ Sports Hall Championships staged at Bristol Grammar School.
JAMES LAURENCE: Stepping up into the new group the 14-year-old Worle School student, who is a member of North Somerset AC, claimed a superb hat-trick of wins in the 2-lap race and both the standing long and triple jumps to be named Under 15 boys’ athlete of the match at the Avon Schools’ Sports Hall Championships staged at BGS.