Release Date: 15/04/2008
The Richmond upon Thames team snatched second place in the London Mini-Marathon on Sunday, provisional results reveal.
The borough’s team of 48 runners aged 11 to 17, assembled by Richmond Council’s Sports Development Team, performed strongly over the 4.6km course, competing against squads from all 33 London boroughs and 13 counties. Four individual top-ten finishes propelled the team to the overall runners-up spot.
Luke Penney was the highest-placed finisher snatching third place in the Boys 11-12 Years category, with team-mate Yul Kahn-Pascual back in sixth. In the same age range for girls, Chloe Huttner grabbed fifth spot, while Katie Iliffe finished ninth in the Girls 13-14 Years category. The borough claimed six other top 20 finishes.
The squad was selected at a trial in Richmond Park in February.
Cllr John Coombs, Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure on Richmond Council, said:
“Congratulations to the team on a superb result. Finishing second out of 33 teams is a remarkable achievement.
“The entire team put in an excellent performance but special praise must go to our four top-ten finishers.
“I’d also like to thank the Sports Development Team who worked in partnership with Ranelagh Harriers and St Mary’s Richmond Athletics Club to put this squad together.
“The Council will continue to work closely with schools and clubs to increase the number of young people playing sport and nurture the talent of our gifted individuals.”