THERE was no happier runner at the Swindon Schools’ Cross Country Championships on Saturday than Chloe Crippen, writes Kevin Fahey.

In her final appearance in the event, representing Nova Hreod School, Crippen completed a hat-trick of victories as she retained her inter girls’ title.

The 15-year-old, from Greenmeadow, shrugged off a recent injury problem to dominate the race, finishing well clear of Warneford’s Chloe Hayward and Jamie Kimber of Dorcan School.

“I pulled something in my back two weeks ago so haven’t been training really but there was no way I was going to miss this race,” said Crippen, who is a member of Highworth Running Club.

“As soon as the race started I found myself in the lead and at the end of the first lap I had built up a gap and it stayed that way until the end.

“I am very happy to win especially as it is my last year at Nova Hreod - I will probably be going to New College next year.

Crippen can now set her sights on leading the Swindon challenge at the Wiltshire Schools’ Championships scheduled for Saturday January 16 at Grittleton House.

“I was seventh last year so I am hoping to do better than that and then qualify for the South West and English Schools’ Championships,” added Crippen.

“But I know there will be some very good girls there from Team Bath AC so I will just have to try and stick with them and see how it goes.”

While Crippen has been a long supporter of this event 14-year-old Sophia Bonnetti was making her debut.

The 14-year-old Ridgeway School student has recently joined Swindon Harriers and been working with coach Bryan Clifton and his talented group of athletes. That training clearly paid off at the weekend as she beat Megan Poole of Isambard Community School and Dorcan’s Kya Goodwin to win the junior girls’ event.

“Sophia is quite new to the group as she has previously been doing triathlons,” said Clifton.

“She is an up-and-coming talent and hopefully we will see her make a lot of progress over the next six months or so because there is a lot more to come from her.”

There was further success for Ridgeway School with Ayla Tonin claiming victory in the minor girls’ age group from Lavinia Rai, of Lydiard Park Academy, with Warneford’s Courtney Hester third.

As in the boys’ race there were no entries for the senior girls’ event.

“That is something we are going to look at for next year,” said Corinne Hunter, who helped put on the event.

“But overall it was a very good day, the rain held off and the entries in the other age groups seemed to be up on previous years.”