Aliesha’s national cross country success
Wed, 29 March 2023
Tameside College student Aliesha is set for success after reaching the finals of national athletics competition.
Aliesha Smith, a former Rayner Stephens High School pupil and current sports student at the college, reached the national cross country championship finals, after success in the north west regional heats.
The competition, which took place at Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire on Saturday 25th February, saw the best cross country runners in England compete against one another.
Aliesha, who trains and competes with East Cheshire Harriers running club, completed the race in an impressive 28 minutes and 31 seconds. She has also had a string of other recent successes; claiming 1st place in the Great Manchester Run under 20s women’s category and winning in the 2022 Tour of Tameside.
Now Aliesha has set her sights on becoming a professional athlete with Team GB and regularly competes in local and regional competitions with her running club.
Aliesha said: “I’m very proud of my running career so far. My parents and friends were really pleased for me too. I’m looking forward to what the future holds for me and I hope that I can make a career from what I enjoy.”
Tracey Hobson, sports teacher at Tameside College, said: “For her age Aliesha is already an extremely competitive runner and I can see that she has a great career ahead of her. To reach the national finals and compete alongside elite runners is amazing and I hope that in the future she will go on to compete at a professional level. Well done to her.”
To find out more about sports courses at Tameside College visit the college website or call 0161 908 6600.