We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Year 11 student Khalid Hussein, whose dedication and commitment have led to an exceptional cross country season.

Khalid’s journey began in Year 7, following a strong performance at a local borough athletics competition organised by St Paul’s Way. This success led him to join Victoria Park Harriers, where his passion for running quickly grew. Reflecting on this, Khalid said, “That race helped me take my first step into athletics. From there, I fell in love with the sport and started to believe in what I could achieve.”

Over the years, Khalid has developed both the physical skills and the mindset needed to excel, supported by his club and the school’s PE department. His progress has been clear through consistent success in London Schools competitions, where he has represented London on several occasions.

This season has been particularly impressive. Khalid finished 12th at the English Schools Cross Country Championship in Liverpool, narrowly missing international selection, and was the highest placed athlete in the gold medal winning London team. He also competed at national level in Nottingham and Sedgefield, delivering strong and consistent performances.

Khalid said, “I am proud of how far I have come and grateful for the support from my teachers, especially Mr Winter, and my family. They have helped me achieve goals I once thought were out of reach.”

Beyond competition, Khalid is recognised for his professionalism, positive attitude and leadership. He is a role model to younger students and played a key role in his training group’s success this season.

At St Paul’s Way, we are proud to support students like Khalid in pursuing excellence both inside and outside the classroom. His achievements strongly reflect our value of aspiration, as he continually strives to reach his full potential and sets a powerful example for others in our community.