THREE star athletes from Rayleigh’s FitzWimarc School have been chosen to run for Essex in the English Schools’ Cross-Country Championships in Leicester on March 21.

Their selection follows outstanding displays by the trio when the County Schools’ Championships went ahead at Basildon’s Gloucester Park last month.

The trio of Sophie Riches, Jake McGrath and Ben Austin all live in Rayleigh and have enjoyed huge success on the cross-country scene this campaign.

In the county schools event all three were representing Castle Point and Rochford.

Austin, 15, a member of Southend AC, has been running since the age of 11. He has been running competitively since primary schools days and now trains five or six times a week.

“I enjoy the challenge of cross-country running and representing FitzWimarc as well as my club,” he said. “I will hopefully do well in the England finals and also go on to take part in track and field events in the summer.”

McGrath, like Riches a 13-year-old, said: “When I started at FitzWimarc I went to training and got into the team.

“I worked really hard and came in early to school twice a week — also training outside of school.

“I have improved a great deal and am looking forward to representing Essex.

“I enjoy various sports including golf, football and basketball but especially enjoy the challenge of cross-country running.”

Riches admits that she became interested in running after watching Kelly Holmes in double gold action at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

She started to run at primary school and took part in sports day and district events.

She is a member of Chelmsford AC where she trains twice a week and also competes most weekends.

She said: “I enjoy running very much because it is exciting and good fun. Running for the school I have been very successful and enjoy representing Fitz. My ambition is to one day run in the Olympics.”

Said FitzWimarc head of PE Danny Cowley: “We are really pleased for Ben, Sophie and Jake. To be selected for the Essex team at the English finals is testament to their hard work and dedication.

“They are certainly pupils that we are very proud of at FitzWimarc and I know that a lot of younger pupils at the school look up to them and aspire to achieve similar success.”

In the Essex Schools, Riches and McGrath, both running against older athletes in the junior event, finished fifth and 14th respectively. Austin triumphed at intermediate boys’ level.