A young athlete from Swindon will represent Wiltshire at a national cross country championship this weekend — despite having been competing for less than a year.
Fourteen-year-old Leo, a pupil at Lawn Manor Academy, has secured a place in the final of the English Schools Cross Country Championships, which takes place on Saturday 14 March.
The event will see around 460 of the country’s top school runners tackle a 3.2km course around Sefton Park in Liverpool.
Leo qualified after finishing seventh in the South West regional race in February, placing first among the Wiltshire athletes competing in the event.
His journey into competitive running began at school, where Mike Wilson, PE teacher and Associate Assistant Headteacher at Lawn Manor Academy, recognised his potential and encouraged him to join Swindon Harriers Athletic Club.
Since joining the club, Leo’s progress has been rapid. Within a month he was taking part in track races, and only three months later he had reached national competition level.
Leo said the experience has helped build both his confidence and well-being.
He said: “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 helped boost my confidence and improve my mental health.”
He added that support from his coach, John Dill, and his school has helped him prepare for the national final.
“I’m nervous about the competition, but my coach and Mr. Wilson have helped me get my strategy in mind so I know what I need to do to run at my best,” he said.
Leo will also have family support at the event, with his father and grandfather travelling to Liverpool to watch him compete.
Mike Wilson said Leo’s ability stood out early on.
“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,” he said.
“His confidence and skills have grown massively in a very short time and now he’s excelling. It was always clear he loved running and that there was real talent there.”
Mr Wilson added that Leo’s success reflects the values promoted by the school.
“While we have many talented sportspeople at Lawn Manor Academy, athletics isn’t always the most popular sport. Being able to support Leo’s passion and show what can be achieved through commitment and resilience is something we’re very proud of.”
