MITCHELL Cox is the toast of Alleyn Court Prep School after being crowned national cross-country champion.
The Year Six pupil at the Wakering Road school beat off competition from all over the country to win the Independent Schools Association’s years five and six boys’ finals at Princethorpe College, in Warwickshire.
Mitchell was one of six pupils from Alleyn Court to win through to the finals at the school in Rugby, with Charlie Lockhart finishing 35th in the boys’ years five and six race.
Meghan Samuels led home the Alleyn Court girls by finishing sixth in the years five and six event.
It bodes well for the future as Meghan is in year five and will be eligible to run in the class again next year.
Ella Healey crossed the line in 26th place, Sophie Rankin finished 46th and Isabel Foley 47th.
“I got the postcode wrong and ended up in the middle of Coventry,” said Alleyn Court’s head of PE Paul Hart.
“I got there just as the girls’ race was finishing but saw the boys’ race. I got there to watch Mitchell becoming national champion, which was pretty amazing.
“The overall results for the school are amazing and we are pleased with them. The standard of the competition each year seems to get higher and higher.
“We have had national champions in the past, but we have not had any for a while. It’s amazing for any pupil to win or finish in the top 10.”
Alleyn Court will be hoping its young athletes can turn on the style next Wednesday at the Essex independent schools cross-country finals at Hylands Park, in Chelmsford. They school has won the event for the past two years.
Sporting all-rounder Mitchell also captained the school’s basketball team to victory in the Southend East School Sports Partnership year six boys tournament at Shoeburyness High School.