IT IS probably fair to say that Wiltshire teenager Zoe Wassell is flying under the athletics radar at the moment – and that is okay by her, writes Kevin Fahey.

The 15-year-old Malmesbury School student completed back-to-back victories – largely unnoticed.

It means Wassell’s rivals are not yet aware of her excellent start to the winter and, if that gives her an advantage as the season moves up a gear, then she will take it.

Wassell, who lives in Tetbury, raced to victories in the second Gwent Cross Country League fixture in Cardiff, beating many older rivals in emphatic fashion and then cruised to victory in the North Wiltshire Schools’ Championships, at Grittleton House School.

The former will cause a stir, especially as on the official results, Wassell’s name is glaringly absent.

“Unfortunately, Zoe got left off the results but she had a really good run and was first in the U17 women’s race,” said proud mum Jane.

“We are not sure what happened as the team manager handed in the results but I am sure it will be amended soon.”

It is not the first time this season that she has been overlooked by race organisers.

In the opening Gloucestershire Cross Country League fixture at Guiting Power last month, she opted to run the senior women’s race and finished a superb fourth, only to be excluded from the first draft of the official results.

“She wanted to run the senior race as an over-distance training run and actually finished just ahead of me,” added Jane.

“But the organisers said she wasn’t old enough to run the race and just listed her as a guest, although they have since changed those rules. To be honest, Zoe hasn’t been too upset by it all. She is loving her running at the moment.”

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