TWO 10-year-olds continued their dominance of Warrington schools' cross country as Walton Gardens transformed into a sporting theatre on Saturday morning.
Eva Karalius and Jack Marwood won the primary school races in front of excited crowds as the second round of this year's Warrington Athletics Club Schools Cross Country League unfolded.
WATCH > Video footage of Saturday's primary school girls' race
WATCH > Video footage of Saturday's primary school boys' race
Between them, Karalius and Marwood have won eight successive races in an increasingly popular series - highlighted by the record number of athletes completing the races at under 11s level.
Such a wonderful event this morning, several hundred runners at the Warrington Schools’ Cross Country at Walton Gardens. Lovely to see so many children taking part and encouraging each other 😍👍👏 xx @WarringtonAC pic.twitter.com/VXJ5bFyvT1
— louise blizzard (@loublizzard) November 17, 2018
There was also success in the older age groups for Alice Nicholson, George Robinson, Melissa Ince, Erik Marshall and Jess Connolly.
VIEW > Pictures from 13 years of Warrington Athletics Club Schools' Cross Country League
Well done to all our children who took part at x country @Walton_Gardens . A fantastic effort by all. Thanks to everyone who joined us #onefamilyjohnburland #activebodyactivemind #sbcpspeevidence pic.twitter.com/hUISptgkDG
— St Benedict's CPS (@stbenedictswcps) November 17, 2018
2nd leg of the Junior Cross Country League at Walton Gardens today. Biggest field ever with 152 in the girls race and 160 in the boys! Special mention goes to Adya, who finished 42nd in her first race and also Josh who finished 33rd, first home for our boys! pic.twitter.com/dje8ZUNlml
— GSPrimarysports (@GSPrimarysports) November 17, 2018
Noise levels were at fever pitch for the opening two races though, as more than 300 children from the town's primary schools flew uphill from the starting line in the bright and crisp conditions to earn their favoured running position for the lap that bordered the pitch-and-putt golf course.
In a little more than five minutes Broomfields Junior School and Sale Harriers runner Karalius was crossing the finish line in first place, repeating her win from November's first round on top of the victories in all three races last year.
Eva Karalius, left, and Esme Heavey
Close behind Karalius (5mins 11secs) was Warrington Athletics Club 11-year-old Esme Heavey (5mins 17secs) from Bradshaw County Primary School and Eva Jha (5mins 18secs) from St Philip Westbrook Primary School.
In the team event, St Monica’s Catholic Primary School won with 53 points, repeating their win from round one. St Peter’s Catholic Primary School finished second on 65 points, with Culcheth Community Primary School third on 100 points.
St Peter's Catholic Primary School cross country team
Marwood from Ravenbank Community Primary School was first over the line from a field of 159 finishers in the primary school boys' race.
His second win of the series follows hot on the heels of his victory in snowy conditions in the last race of the 2017 series.
Jack Marwood, celebrating his latest victory
The round's closest and most thrilling finish came in the year eight and nine girls' race.
Culcheth High School's Melissa Ince (10mins 39secs) just held off the fierce competition from Great Sankey's Molly Wormald (10mins 39secs) as she backed up what had been a comfortable first-round win, with Bridgewater High School's Emily Entwistle only a further second behind.
The team race was won by Great Sankey on 19 points, with Bridgewater finishing second on 30 points.
In the same age group, Erik Marshall (9mins 31secs) from Lymm was an outstanding winner of the boys' race, crossing the line more than a minute ahead of the field to top his comfortable victory in round one.
Yet more success at the Warrington Gardens cross-country event. Well done to all who ran. Congratulations @LymmHighSchool student Erik on his 1st place finish. @WarringtonAC #Runner #SpeedDemon #CrossCountry @EnglandAthletic @SchoolAthletics pic.twitter.com/kKSqkItrA5
— Lymm High School PE (@LymmHighSports) November 17, 2018
Bridgewater's Marcus Trevithick (10mins 36secs) and Great Sankey's Ben Pucill (10mins 58secs) were second and third respectively.
Lymm were the only complete team on 24 points.
Nothing better than a Saturday cross country run around Walton Gardens representing your school with your friends @BCA_Principal @BCAWarrington @BCAMrHarris pic.twitter.com/JL60DcEc2a
— Beamont Year 9 (@BCAYear9) November 17, 2018
Another repeat victory was achieved in the minor girls' race.
Hot on the heels of her round-one victory Alice Nicholson (7mins 19secs) from Great Sankey High School was clear of Harriet Bell (7mins 38secs) from Bridgewater High School and Corin Smith (7mins 42secs) from Lymm High School.
It was double joy for Nicholson as Great Sankey won the team event on 26 points, with Bridgewater second on 29 points.
Different runners took the top two spots in this round's minor boys' race, with Bridgewater High School's George Robinson (10mins 49secs) finishing ahead of Anthony Madew (11mins 26secs) from Great Sankey.
Max Ryder (11mins 36secs) from Lymm repeated his third-place spot from round one.
Beamont Collegiate Academy were the only team to complete, scoring 38 points.
In the year 10 and 11 girls' contest, Bridgewater's Jess Connolly (10mins 20secs) came home ahead of King's Leadership Academy's Rebecca Nixon (11mins 12secs) and Birchwood Community High School's Niamh Aldridge (13mins 15secs).
The final round takes place on Saturday, December 8, when all individual and team positions will be decided.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here