BEST STATE COMPREHENSIVE IN THE COUNTRY!

Huge congratulations to the Senior Team who achieved the best ever finish for JFS at the National Relays at King Henry VII School in Coventry on Wednesday, and can now relish the fact that they are the No.1 state comprehensive in the country for Cross-Country.

Whilst the Senior Knole represents the National XC race, this event is the XC Relays Championships. 47 schools are invited from all over the country. Indeed there is a 350 mile difference between some of the competing schools.

The best finish by a JFS team was 12th in 2004. The aim was to go better this time.

The squad of 12 runners, A & B teams set off from JFS at 9.15 for the long journey up the the Midlands.

The traditional stop at Oxford Services saw the boys debate at length what food they would purchase, and indeed saw some of the squad try out some original chat-up lines to the girls from another school. Captain Spalding was impressed by their confidence, but not with the content.

More miles on the motorways saw the squad arrive in Coventry and the tent was erected in the normal place in the Memorial Park where this event takes place.

The leg positions had been agreed on the way up and so numbers were attached and the course walked.

Coach Francis arrived having enjoyed the delights of the city centre to add his advice to the preparations.

The conditions were very windy and muddy underfoot - perfect for XC!

The JFS runners all ran with distinction as you can see below

A TEAM

Leg 1: Alex Galvin 13.32
Leg 2:  Fabien Daburn 13.45
Leg 3: Ricky Lutakome 11.47
Leg 4: Ryan Galvin 13.03
Leg 5: Harry Smith 13.49
Leg 6: Robert Spalding 13.22

B TEAM
Leg 1: Gianluca Ercolano 14.11
Leg 2: Joe Halfacre 15.32
Leg 3: Jacob Jones 14.19
Leg 4: Daniel Hodgson 15.40
Leg 5: Oscar Halfacre 16.29
Leg 6: Sean McAllister 14.24

The A Team finished an amazing 11th Place

They were the first state comprehensive school to finish!

The B Team finished 38th

All the runners who had run previously beat their times.

Ricky ran the 4th fastest lap of the whole day - as a Year 11

Having enjoyed the culinary delights on offer, and heard the founder of Parkrun explain how he created the weekend running phenomenon, it was back to the bus to return to school around 8.20, tired, muddy but very much delighted

  

WELL DONE TO ALL RUNNERS