SPORT is not all about winning – just ask Swindon teenager Chloe Hayward, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

It is also about self-improvement, pride, dedication and desire and the 15-year-old Highworth Warneford School student showed all those qualities in spades as she made her debut in the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham.

Hayward, who is a member of Swindon Harriers, knew she had no chance of winning the inter girls’ race against the best runners of her age group in the country.

Indeed, there was little chance of Hayward even making the top 100 but that was irrelevant for the teenager as she made her debut for Wiltshire on the national stage and enjoyed the experience so much she can’t wait to do it again.

“It was just an incredible event,” said Hayward. “I have never experienced anything like it ever, it was just so manic and really scary but what a great experience and I was happy to finish 264th and fifth Wiltshire girl on my debut.

“I was never going to win it and the hard work for me was getting into the Wiltshire team in the first place. The day after the event I woke up and went for a run as I felt so motivated. I can’t wait to run it again next year.”

She added: “The start was something I have never seen before as it was probably 10 times bigger than any other race I have done.

“We had to start in pens and I was fourth in our pen which was right in the middle of the start line. It felt like a massed stampede and the noise was so loud.

“It didn’t take long to get out of the pens but I was stuck behind a lot of other runners and had to run at their pace. There was loads of pushing and shoving and I fell over at a corner as I tripped over a tree root which was quite scary.

“Someone behind helped me to get back up and I didn’t lose much ground but just had a few bruises afterwards.”

Hayward will make another career debut today when she again pulls on her Wiltshire vest for the Inter-Counties Championships in Birmingham.

“I am sure that will be a similar race so at least I will know what to expect and hopefully I can do better than the English Schools last weekend,” added Hayward.

Chloe Crippen, of Nova Hreod, finished 328th while Swindon Harriers athletes Ben McIntyre, who was representing Gloucestershire, was 32nd in the junior boys’ event and Will Crisp, racing for Oxfordshire, was 36th in the inter boys’ age group.

ELSEWHERE last weekend, Swindon Harriers enjoyed a one-two in the senior men’s race at the Oxfordshire Cross Country League with Ben Cole beating training partner Nyle Clinton. The pair will also be in action at the Inter Counties on Saturday.