THERE will have been no other athlete more delighted than Katie Strange with her performance at the Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships, writes Kevin Fahey.

For the 14-year-old Hardenhuish School student from Chippenham, the bronze medal she won in the inter girls’ race will have glowed as bright as any gold, such was her satisfaction at returning to action with a result that far exceeded her expectations.

“Her face when he finished was a picture; Katie was delighted,” said proud mum Sarah.

Strange has battled to overcome the debilitating effects of ME/chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), which forced her to give up her sport last year and even take time off school, so to mark her comeback with such a superb run was more than she could have dreamed of to open 2016.

“Katie started feeling ill in November 2014 and by November, she had to stop running and going to school,” said Sarah.

“During Christmas 2014, it was all we could do to get her out of the house for an hour or so. She was feeling so bad and then in January 2015, the problem was diagnosed as ME/CFS.

“She was told that she couldn’t do any sport at all and had to rest. It was very tough as running was her love and passion but Katie is a very determined character and kept setting herself little targets.

“She didn’t meet some but the county schools’ was one she had set for herself and after starting light training, she was hoping to make the top eight to qualify for the South West Schools’ Championships, so to finish third left her delighted.”

A measure of Strange’s talent and determination was that she was able to celebrate her comeback with such an impressive result as she chased home 16-year-old John of Gaunt student Caitlin Wosika and Caroline Brenchley, of St Mary’s, Calne.

Wosika last won the county title as a junior two years ago but since making her debut as a minor girl in 2012, she can now boast two golds, two silvers a bronze.

Remarkably, it was Strange’s first medal at the event, having previously finished fifth and ninth as she continues her fight against the illness.

COUNTY CHAMPIONS: Will Stockley (Melksham Oak) – senior boys; Freddie Webb (The John of Gaunt) – inter boys; Rory Howorth (St Augustine’s) – junior boys; Robert Jones (Bishop Wordsworth) – minor boys; Gemma Shepherd (Sheldon) – senior girls; Caitlin Wosika (The John of Gaunt) – inter girls; Abigail Burn (South Wilts Girls Grammar) – junior girls; Olivia Roderick (St Edmund’s Girls) – minor girls.