Date: 7th December 2025 Location: Newbold Revell (Hosted by Rugby & Northampton AC)
The BRAT squad arrived at Newbold Revell yesterday determined to make a mark as we crossed the halfway point of the West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League. On a true cross-country course hosted by Rugby & Northampton AC, our young athletes delivered exceptional performances, cementing the club’s position as a serious contender for the league podium.
With three races down and two to go, BRAT sits in a fantastic 3rd position in the Overall League Standings with 16,424 points 🥉 after our FIRST EVER 2nd PLACE FINISH! We have successfully leapfrogged fierce local rivals Birchfield Harriers and are now firmly chasing the top two spots.
It was a day defined not just by raw speed, but by intelligent pack running, impressive debuts, and remarkable individual progress. Here are the highlights from a brilliant day of racing across all age groups.
Under 15 Boys: The Power of the Pack 🏃
The story of the day belongs to our Under 15 Boys. While we didn’t have a runner in the top 10, the team produced a masterclass in “pack running” to finish 4th on the day with 863 points.
Our scoring five runners finished within just 13 places of each other:
- Will King led the charge in 21st (10:56), a massive performance that set the tone.
- He was followed closely by Ben Eden in 27th (11:10), who has improved significantly from his 45th place finish in the season opener.
- The pack was rounded out by Daniel Tyler (29th), Noah Gordon (31st), and Joseph Baker (34th).
This tight grouping allowed the team to outscore many clubs who had individual runners further ahead but lacked our depth.
Under 11s: Youngsters Leading the Charge ⭐
Under 11 Boys: Our U11 Boys continue to be the standout team of the season. They finished 2nd on the day with 901 points, retaining their 2nd place position in the overall series standings.
- Logan Pearce had the run of the day for this age group. After finishing 23rd in the first match at Walsall, he stormed through the field yesterday to finish 8th, a massive improvement and his best result of the season.
- He was backed up by Lucas Sacramento Guillaume (10th) and Leo Dunigan (11th), placing three BRAT vests in the top 11.
- Further down the field, Luke Warrener (27th) moved up from 52nd in the previous match, showing fantastic progress.
Under 11 Girls: The girls fought hard in a competitive field to finish 6th on the day.
- Nova-Annalise Saltmarsh led the team home in a solid 24th place.
- Azucena Cereceda (33rd) and Nina Mcluskie (44th) provided strong support, ensuring the team remains in the top 6 overall for the season.
Under 13s: Moving on Up ⬆️
Under 13 Boys: Anaadh Singh is the definition of progress. He has improved his position in every fixture (17th -> 13th -> 11th), finishing just outside the top 10 yesterday with a time of 10:26.
- Sebastien Emery also produced a standout run, slashing his ranking from 65th in Match 2 to finish 33rd yesterday.
- Charlie Keenan (31st) and Jacob Fung (32nd) packed well to keep the team in 4th place on the day.
Under 13 Girls: Sophie McKinnon continued her impressive season. Like Anaadh, she has improved in every race, moving from 41st in the opener to a fantastic 24th place yesterday.
- Eliana Dawit also had a breakthrough performance, jumping from 53rd in the previous match to 36th yesterday.
Under 15 Girls: A Fantastic Debut 👏
The U15 Girls team welcomed a new scorer who made an immediate impact.
- Maiara Dalmedo made a fantastic league debut, running a strong race to finish 54th as the first BRAT scorer in this age group.
- She was supported by Orla Woodman (62nd) and Isabel Pickering (74th), securing valuable points for the club.
Under 17s: Consistency at the Top ⛰️
Under 17 Men: The U17 Men produced their best team performance of the season so far, finishing 3rd on the day and moving into a strong 4th place overall.
- Elliot Dawlatly continues to be a rock for the team, securing a fantastic 9th place finish (17:07) yesterday. He currently sits 8th in the individual series standings.
- A special mention to Josh Taylor, who is on a brilliant upward trajectory. He has improved his position in every single race this season, climbing from 20th in Match 1, to 16th in Match 2, and finally 13th place yesterday.
- Evan Tomlinson (14th) and Joshua King (21st) packed well to ensure a low team score.
Under 17 Women: Consistency is key in cross country, and Amira Emery has been a metronome for the team. She finished 15th yesterday, backing up her 16th place finishes in both previous matches.
- Arriella Dalmedo finished strong in 21st, helping the team to 6th place on the day.
Looking Ahead 🎯
The commitment shown by every BRAT athlete—from the front runners to those fighting for every place in the pack—has put the club in a formidable position. We are currently sitting in 3rd place overall, just ahead of Birchfield Harriers.
With the winter break approaching, we have time to train hard and prepare for Match 4 in January. Let’s keep this momentum going and aim to solidify that podium spot!
Well done, BRAT! 🎉
XC Team Manager – Nick Price
