With this Sunday’s London Marathon being the focus for the running world this week, it also means a chance for young athletes to shine in three age groups (U13, U15 and U17) in the London mini marathon championships which will take place on Saturday morning over what is the last 2.6km of the marathon course. 

Over the years some of the UK’s best talent have performed with distinction in these events such as Josh Kerr, Mo Farah, Laura Muir and Keely Hodgkinson. 

This year will see six young athletes from Norfolk representing the East in these races. 

At under 13 level, Finley Winship and Flo Abbot, both City of Norwich AC along with Cameron Wedon (Great Yarmouth & District AC) and Lottie Hood (CoNAC) in the Under 15s and Zach Dunne and Sarah Barrett (both CoNAC) in the Under 17s.

They have all qualified through their performances in this year’s Norfolk County Cross Country Championships. 

This is also a great opportunity for them to perform in front of large crowds and the TV cameras. 

However, and whilst all of them will indeed be looking to shine this weekend, Sarah (Barrett) has also recently been selected to run for England at U20 level for the Trofeo Optiergium European 5k road race in Italy on May 1. 

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Her proud coach, Lawrence Wade, said: “This is so very well deserved as she really is such a dedicated and disciplined athlete.” 

Sarah’s current 5k best is 16:56 which is very impressive, especially for someone of her age. I am also sure there is a lot more to come off that time and hopefully in Italy when she makes her international debut. 

In the meantime, all the very best to what is Norfolk’s young Super Six on Saturday whereby I am sure those 2.6 kilometres on the roads of London will stay in their memory banks for many years to come.  

At the same time, it will be another step up in what will hopefully be a successful career in athletics and, who knows, maybe a front runner in the full marathon one day. 

All the very best to everyone taking part in Sunday’s London Marathon, be it for those just doing it for their own purposes, and of course, for those out there raising money for all the great charities and causes.