CHLOE Crippen’s success in finally making the podium at the Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships is a great example to all young athletes, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 17-year-old Swindon New College student, from Greenmeadow, went into the event staged at Sheldon School, Chippenham, having never finished higher than seventh in both 2015 and last year, themselves big improvements on her debut of 28th in the 2013 junior girls’ race.

Crippen, who is a member of Highworth Running Club, has worked hard since and showed steady improvement under the guidance of coach Jason Campbell but even she was taken aback with the silver medal in the senior girls’ race.

“I did not expect to do that well at all this year so I am really happy with second place,” said Crippen.

“Over the last couple of months, since I started my new professional sports course to become a personal trainer at New College, I have not been training as much.

“But I thought I would go along to do the race and try my best and see how it went.”

While Crippen couldn’t hold onto eventual winner Molly Gibbins, who is a newcomer at Marlborough College, winning her first county schools’ cross country medal gave her huge satisfaction.

“I have been doing this event for quite a few years now and while I have won county medals at 800m it is nice to pick up a medal and still be competing in the seniors, as when I left Nova Hreod I thought that would be the end for me,’’ she added.

“I am now definitely looking forward to pushing myself more in the build-up to the English Schools’ Championships and in Molly I have someone to aim for.”

Crippen wasn’t the only Swindon medallist in the event that saw almost 300 youngsters contest the eight races over a new venue that replaced the traditional course at Grittleton House School, which closed last summer, The other big performance came from Patrick Mochan of Lydiard Park School as he took bronze in the junior boys’ race.

The Swindon Harrier, who races infrequently, was fourth in the 2015 minor boys’ race.

He was backed up by fellow Lydiard Park School athlete Dan Grant in fifth while the Ridgeway’s Harry Cunningham finished seventh.

Ayla Tonkin also of Ridgeway, was ninth in the junior girls’ age group with Lavinia Rai of Lydiard Park, who is coached by John Dill at the Harriers, came 10th.

Beth Davidson (Ridgeway) and Kelly-Marie Marsh (Commonweal) were seventh and eighth respectively in the minor girls’ race.