For those not familiar with The Cross Challenge, the event is a series of five fixtures across the autumn and winter season, offering high quality and competitive cross country opportunities held in Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Antrim, culminating in a series finale in Loughborough. The Cross Challenge gives up-and-coming athletes the opportunity to match themselves against established cross country stars with competitive fields catering for all age groups: Senior, Under 20, Under 17, Under 15 and Under 13.
The prestigious Liverpool leg took centre stage last weekend, with a record number of athletes taking part. The country’s finest endurance runners descended on Sefton Park for the event, one of which was our very own India Pentland.
India’s race, the Under 17 women (of which she is still in her first year at U17) was run in conjunction with the Under 20 women. They ran a total of 4.4km which consisted of one red lap, then the yellow lap, and half of the red lap again, plus the start and finish as shown here on the course map! Wow, I think everyone should get a medal for getting round without taking a wrong turn!
We have come to expect great things from India when she runs, but we must remember she is still in her first year of Under 17s and the calibre of the opposition here really was the best from England, Ireland Scotland and Wales. However, she didn’t disappoint….. India ran the race of her life with a tremendous performance, finishing 7th in her age group in a time of 16:27.
A fantastic effort, India, well done! It certainly makes us wonder what could happen next year when India is one of the older athletes in her age group! Can’t wait to find out….. #UTH!
