9:55am Thursday 26th March 2009
By Andy McAllister
Elizabeth Greenwood, from Read Church of England Primary School, is the British Schools biathlon champion after claiming the title at Bath University.
It was the first time the 10-year-old has been old enough to take part in the schools’ competition, although it isn’t her first national title as she won the national biathlon champ-ionships in the U10 age group last year at Macclesfield.
Biathlon incorporates two elements of the modern pentathlon, swimming and running, and the competition was held under Pentathlon GB rules.
In the 50-metre swim, she was sixth in 34.90 seconds giving her 1064 points, but she really excelled in the 1000 metre track run with 3:17.68 seconds.
She was more than nine seconds faster than her nearest rival and scored 72 points more with 1344 points.
Overall she won by 56 points from runner-up Tanisha Orchard, from Mossley, who was second in both disciplines.
The best of the rest were almost 200 points behind.
Greenwood has been competing since she was seven, first swimming for the Pioneer 79 club, then following in her brother Martin’s steps at Ribble Valley Pentathlon Club.
She has been a member of Blackburn Harriers for the last two years and this winter has won all four rounds of the Red Rose Cross Country League, the Lancashire Cross Country Championships and the Daffodil Doddle at Abbey Village where she beat all the girls under 17.
This summer she is intending to try fell running starting with the opening round of the U12 English Championship next month.
To qualify for Bath, Elizabeth had won the North West Championship at Wavertree in November.
In the same event, fellow Blackburn Harrier Sally Searson was second in the Year 7 class and the St Wilfred’s student was placed 16th at Bath.
As a part of her prize for winning at Wavertree, Elizabeth is being invited to take part in the World Championships at Crystal Palace in August.
andy.mcallister@virgin.net
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