Rachel notches Northern Ireland cross-country title

The 2013 Uneven Age-Group Northern Ireland & Ulster Cross Country Championships took place at Gransha Park, Londonderry.

Bright sunshine enveloped the reasonably flat course and the large crowds were treated to some spectacular races.

The Under 15 Girls 3000m was the 6th race on the card and provided 12 year old pupil of Ballymena Academy, Rachel Brown with another platform to showcase her talent.

Rachel took part with 70 other girls ranging from year 9 to year 11 but all Under 15 and executed her race tactics with precision. The long 250m straight at the start saw an explosion of young runners, only those with the sharpest of speed forming a lead group entering the first lap of the course.

Nervousness existed among some of the runners with no- one wanting to lead from the front. Rachel deployed her pre-race tactics and tucked into the middle of the lead pack running with elegance and style which made it seem effortless.

The second lap saw various runners forced to go to the front but with 350m to the finish, Rachel in the familiar Ballymena & Antrim vest, lifted the pace and with a great burst of speed headed to the line – challenged by her peers Rachel dug deep to ward of any late surge and win by 2 seconds to earn herself the title of N I & Ulster Under 15 Cross Country Champion.

Rachel heads to Santry, Dublin this weekend to compete in the Under 14 Irish Cross Country Championships.