SPORTY students from Year 7 and 8 at Haslingden High School will now represent Rossendale in the county finals.
The school’s Year 8 boys’ and Year 7 girls’ teams swept the board in the Rossendale School Sports Partnership indoor Sportshall Athletics competitions, both held this month at The Valley Leadership Academy in Stacksteads.
They faced teams from The Valley, Alder Grange, All Saints, and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.
Year 7 girls’ team winners included Matilda Jackson, 11, and Amelie Smethurst, 12.
Matilda said: “We did lots of different running events, including relays and single runs, and we also did field events like the javelin; running was probably the hardest thing.”
They also did a standing long jump, high jump and other disciplines.
Amelie said: “I quite enjoyed doing the running although it was quite hard. I thought our school would win. I am looking forward to the next round, and especially the running. I am doing a bit of practice running near my home because I live in a quiet area.”
Their final will be on March 25 in Blackpool.
Year 8 boys’ team winners included Harry Walker and Daniel Johnson, both 12, and they are no strangers to sport as both play for Junior Hoops Saints football team, and Harry is also a very good cross-country and fell runner.
Harry said: “I have won the Rossendale cross-country competition at Marl Pits for the last two years, and I also excel at long jump. Sometimes I go to Trafford to do track and field. We are just waiting to find out when our final in Blackpool will take place. Me and Daniel do a lot of sport and we are probably two of the best football players in the school in our year and among the best runners.”
Harry completes park runs in Burnley, getting up at 7.15 am, and he just got his personal best of 19mins 20mins for 5k. In Burnley, there is a 2k race and a 5k, and sometimes he competes in both. He plays left and right wing with Junior Hoops and also plays for Rossendale Valley Pumas is hoping to be scouted to play for Blackburn. Daniel is also hoping to be scouted for a professional team. He used to be a striker and now plays in defence.