A 14-year-old Swindon runner will represent Wiltshire at the National Cross Country Championship after less than a year of competitive racing.
Leo, a pupil at Lawn Manor Academy, secured his place in the final after finishing seventh in the South West heat in February, taking first place among all Wiltshire athletes.
He will now compete against 460 of the country’s top school cross country runners on a 3.2km course at Sefton Park in Liverpool on Saturday, March 14.
Leo was encouraged to pursue running by his PE teacher and associate assistant headteacher, Mike Wilson, who saw his potential and recommended he join Swindon Harriers Athletic Club.
Leo explained: “I was always quite good at running and cross country since primary school, but Mr Wilson encouraged me to take it further and try out for Swindon Harriers.
"A month after I joined I was competing in track races and helping my team gain points, and within three months I was already reaching national competition – I really felt the pressure of that but competing really helped to boost my confidence as well as improve my mental health too.”
He added that his coach at Swindon Harriers, John Dill, and Mr Wilson have helped him develop a race strategy, and his father and grandfather will be in Liverpool to support him.
Mr Wilson said: “We spotted Leo’s untapped potential in athletics and through our links with the club, we encouraged Swindon Harriers to take him on a trial, where his ability was clear.”
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