Academy pupils excel at NEBSSA cross-country finals

Ballymena Academy enjoyed success at the recent NEBSSA Cross Country Championships.
Ballymena Academy pupils who excelled in the recent NEBSSA cross-country championships in Coleraine.Ballymena Academy pupils who excelled in the recent NEBSSA cross-country championships in Coleraine.
Ballymena Academy pupils who excelled in the recent NEBSSA cross-country championships in Coleraine.

The Galgorm Road school were placed 2nd overall, and had a number of highly placed teams and individuals at the event, hosted by the University of Ulster Coleraine campus.

Conditions on the day were difficult at times with rain and wind testing the competitors strength and stamina.

The ground underfoot was very muddy, with organisers having to change the course to prevent too much damage being caused which would have a knock-on effect on other major cross country events which take place later in the season.

The first race to take place was the Year 8 Girls race.

Georgia Kidd fought her way into the leading group and finished in an excellent 5th place.

She, along with Eabha Steele, Sophie McCluney, Niamh Rodgers, Rhiannon White and Alex Henry-McCool achieved 2nd place as a team.

In the Year 8 Boys team Kyle Johnston was the top Ballymena performer fighting his way up the field in the latter stages to finish 2nd overall.

This, along with strong performances from teammates Robbie Wilson, Owen Johnston, Peter Bristow, Joel Logan and Adam Thompson, secured an excellent 1st team position.

Outstanding performances from Katie Agnew, Year 10, placed 2nd overall, Craig Simpson, Year 10, placed 3rd overall, and Rachel Brown, Year 11, 4th place, resulting in a good day for Ballymena Academy.

Consistency throughout the event, with Year 9 Girls, Year 9 Boys, Year 10 Girls, and Senior Girls Teams all achieving 3rd places resulted in Ballymena Academy’s runner up position in the event.

The event was won by newly formed Coleraine College.