Five Thetford athletes wore their county colours at the Anglian Schools Cross Country Championships this week.

Taking place at the Princess Royal Sports Arena in Boston, Lincolnshire, the Thetford athletes found themselves divided with Tom Mead donning the blue shirt of Suffolk whilst Aiden Try, Harley Swan, Joseph Smythe and Jessica Norkett wore the black, red and yellow stripes of Norfolk.

All athletes had successfully negotiated either the Norfolk or Suffolk Schools County Championship events.

Tom Mead finished in a highly creditable 14th position out of the 70 competing, making him the third Suffolk athlete to cross the line. Aiden Try finished in 23rd position and was the fifth Norfolk athlete with Harley Swan in 30th place, making him the seventh Norfolk competitor. Joe Smythe crossed the line in the Junior Boys race in 24th place out of the 72 taking part.

Jessica Norkett came an impressive 15th place out of the 78 competing, in a highly competitive Junior Girls age group which was dominated by Norfolk athletes. Norkett was the seventh Norfolk girl to cross the line.

All athletes now have to wait to see whether they have done enough to be selected to represent their respective counties at the forthcoming English Schools Cross Country Championships in Nottingham during March.

Elsewhere, the latest round of competition has taken place in the Ryston Grand Prix, within the forest of Shouldham Warren near Downham Market. Alicia-Mae Howard kicked off proceedings with a superb fourth place finish in the U9 girls race, running a time of 3.32. James Peck secured a PB in the U11 boys race with his time of 8:28 seeing him finish in fifth position with Ewan Peck finishing in 17th place with a time of 10:10. Abigail Clouston came third in the U11 girls race with a time of 8.37min followed by Isabel Smythe in seventh (9:37).

There was a PB for Tyler Howard in the U13 Boys race with his time of 13:05 good enough for seventh place. Charlie Stone ran to a superb second place in the U17 age category with a time of 18:10. Senior Male, Karl Wright, logged a PB on his way to 14th with a time of 36:05 whilst there was a third place finish for Simon Smith in the V40 category with a personal best time of 34:03. There was another third place for Thetford with Craig Goldie clocking a PB of 35:02 in the V45 category.

Charlotte Smith ran to a PB in the V35 category with her 38:58 seeing her claim second spot.