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Say these words: World Youth Games, Lille, 12 July 2011, U18 800m, Team GB, Katie Snowden - and a picture should be emerging. Just when the rest of us were shifting down a gear or two at the start of the holidays, Katie was pushing hard. In a challenging 4 days Katie ran 3 tremendous races and recorded her 2nd (2.05.64) and 3rd (2.05.67) fastest times to date, making a valuable contribution to the overall results of a Great Britain team which performed above most expectations.
“It was a strong line-up in the semi-final. I was racing against the fastest girl in the world and I knew only the top 2 were going to get through and she’d be one of them. I didn’t have a strategy – I didn’t know how any of the other girls would run, so I just ran my own race.”
Recovering from an injury at the start of season, and with AS exams to think about, Year 12 Katie was delighted to achieve her aim of being part of Team GB. It’s such a learning curve, racing at the highest level for her age and she takes heart from the encouragement of the managers. “I’ll try to keep improving!” Next focus: getting to the World Junior Games in Barcelona, 2012, where she’d be running in an U20 event.
Overall Katie came 7th in the world. Not a bad way to start the term! And the great thing about Katie is that she’s back at school today ready for her Year 13 A level studies, happy to be back with her friends - and she won’t miss her senior netball trials after school, or a single match.
Katie received the Senior Sportswoman of the Year Award at assembly today, acknowledging the example she has set and the contribution she has made to the sporting life of the school, 2010/11. Well done Katie.
1 September 2011
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