Loreto Preparatory School’s young flyers have crowned a record-breaking year by winning the Independent Schools’ North of England Cross Country Championships.
The pocket rockets from the Altrincham school’s Year Six team have also won the Altrincham and District League and the Catenians’ cross country title, together with the challenging Longford Relays.
Loreto’s brilliant performances over the last four years have been credited by the school’s experienced coach Jan Brett, “to a strong backbone of highly talented, tough, young runners, supported by a wonderful team ethic.”
Aisling McHale was the individual winner in the Altrincham Cross Country League and the Catenian race, and was the fastest girl in the Longford relays with second places in the Greater Manchester Primary Schools’ Championships and the ISA qualifier at Rochdale.
Aisling has been selected to run for ISA North at the Nationals in Rugby later this spring.
Ella Gillespie won the ISA qualifier at Rochdale, was second in the Altrincham Schools’ League and the Longford Relays. She will also represent ISA North.
Jan Brett said: “These four girls, superbly supported by Eithne Daly and Lauren Burney, have inspired a squad of over 40 runners to improve continually their personal best times. They might look like butter would not melt in their mouths and be an absolute joy to coach but don’t let appearances fool you, because when the going gets tough, these girls get going.”
