[Not a valid template]The local District Schools cross country Championships were held on Thursday at Delamont Country Park. The ground was still very heavy but, though very cold, the day was sunny apart from the inevitable vicious shower. North Down AC athletes were seeming to be doing well, pide of place going to the three medallists. In the open race of the day, Molly Brown (Glenlola) had a runaway win in the mini girls race. This was immediately followed by a second place in the senior girls race by Katie Moore (Bloomfield) who was headed by Northern Ireland team-mate Elaine Birch. With good symmetry, Craig McMeechan (BGS) was third in the final event of the day, the junior boys race.
[Not a valid template]Others ran well but we must wait for the results and the qualifiers for the Ulster Schools Championships. The qualifying system is complex in that members of the 1st 3 teams qualify whether they score for the team or not and then the 1st 12 individuals. Sometimes the 1st 20 is enough but others the athlete has to in the 1st 12, depending how team results pan out. Fields are huge and competition is very tough as schools can augment their teams with fitter members of their squads from other sports.