On 11 January at 4.30pm at Pickett’s Locke I witnessed not just a good performance from rising star Katie Snowden but possibly a performance from a future great athlete; this may sound a bit biased being her coach for just over two years.
Katie had entered both the U17 300m and the 800m, having won the U15 800m title last year. She had competed in and won the 4.5km Surrey Cross Country League U15/U17 race on Farthing Downs the day before. She did so in freezing temperatures of -4° degrees and treacherous conditions in places.
There were about 30 athletes entered in the 300m, many well over a year older them Katie who is still only 14. She won her first heat in a creditable 42.99 which was the 4th fastest time overall and also bearing in mind that she hasn’t really done any speed work as yet. She then made the sensible decision to pull out of the 800m, which she may have also medalled in. In the semi finals Katie again won her race and qualified second fastest in a time of 42.69, again to Aldershot’s Surrey and English Schools champion Amy Alcock.
With two hours to the final Katie was feeling slightly leg weary bearing in mind the exertions of the previous day and the two previous heats. She was able to pick herself up for the final having drawn lane 6 to Alcock’s lane 5. I did tell Katie to expect a very fast start and indeed Alcock was gaining on her by the first 50 metres. With 50m or 60m to go Alcock had a 7m or 8m lead on Katie, but coming off the bend Katie kicked and was only just beaten on the finish line in a time of 41.0 to Alcock’s 40.9. It was indeed a close encounter.
James McDonald
