TWO young Dales runners have taken crucial steps towards their Olympic dreams after winning area trials.
Students from Wensleydale School and Sixth Form, Leyburn, Kyle Rabjohn, 13, of Middleham, and Alana Teasdale, 11, of Askrigg, both won their age groups in the county trials.
Both members of the Richmond and Zetland Harriers, they have dreams of following the Brownlee Brothers into Olympic glory.
Kyle said: “I have been running two years and want to do triathlon. My brother runs for area and county and we use the hills and dales to train, especially the 546m high Penhill.”
Alana took up running about a year ago. She said: “I took part in a race at Catterick Racecourse and was really surprised to win, so I joined a club. We were delighted to win the area championships and succeeding at county as well as really spurred us on.”
Wensleydale School and Sixth Form head teacher Julia Polley said: “We are all really excited about the potential of both young runners. They are already demonstrating the steel and determination needed to run at the very highest level and we shall watch their development with great interest.
“With the county’s reputation clearly cemented for producing the world’s best athletes, they really could go all the way to the top step of the podium.”