Axe Valley Academy runner tipped for success after grabbing attention of national coaches

Axe Valley Academy pupil Innes Fitzgerald is tipped for sporting success after impressing top running coaches at recent competitions.

The Year 11 pupil from Beer, who celebrated her 16th birthday this week, has always had an interest in sport but developed her commitment to running further during lockdown.

As restrictions were eased, she was convinced to take part in Seaton parkrun, recording a record finishing time, and recently won the Junior Grizzly race in Seaton.

Her successful year of competitive running started with the East Devon Schools Cross Country Championships at Bicton College, running a distance of 4,000 metres in the under 16s girls category, going on to compete in five championships across the country.

After coming first in all her races including the South West regional heat, Innes won a place to compete at the National School Cross Country Championships at Hop Farm, in Kent, in March.

After a long journey, Innes discovered that she had forgotten her running spikes but, instead of getting flustered, a successful social media appeal supported by former GB athlete Jo Pavey saw many athletic clubs offering to help.

Innes ran the next day in borrowed shoes and after recovering from a foot infection that had kept her off her feet for three days in the previous week. She led the field for three quarters of the race but was eventually caught by Jess Bailey, an established athlete with national form from Cumbria.

Despite being pipped to the post, Innes was offered a place to represent England at the SIAB International Cross Country Championships in Pembrey, Wales, where she not only won her race, but blew the rest of the field away.

She recorded a time of 14 minutes, 41 seconds for 4,000m, with her nearest rival 26 seconds behind and she now holds the title of inter girls champion of Great Britain. She also helped the England team to take gold.

Innes' year of success has grabbed the attention of several running coaches, who hope she could go the full distance. This week she joined Gavin Pavey, husband and coach of world, European and Commonwealth medalist Jo Pavey, in Exeter to try out track running.

Axe Valley Academy have high hopes for house captain Innes, with staff saying they one day hope to see her compete in the Olympics.

She has been backed by staff, in particularly PE teacher Dave Owen, and her peers all the way, and the school this week presented her with a silver pocket watch to commemorate her 'moment in time'.

A humble student, Innes has been overwhelmed by the interest in her running ability and said it is just starting to sink in that this could shape her future.

She commented: "The possibilities from now seem endless, therefore I don't have any specific plans but just to see what happens, let the enjoyment take me.†

Headteacher Laura Jenkins praised Innes for her hard-working and determined mindset, saying she is also thriving academically as she prepares for her GCSE exams and is always supportive of her peers.

"Potentially Innes could be really special and everyone is really routing for her here," she added.