TWO YOUNG friends who were given the rare chance to compete in the Herts 10K on Sunday say they’ve been bitten by the running bug and can’t wait to take on the challenge next year.

Tommy Wright and Alex Levy, both 12, were the youngest entrants in the 10K in aid of Grove House, and only allowed to enter after proving they were committed to raising cash and completing the race.

The boys, who attend Sandringham School, finished with impressive times with Tommy crossing the finish line in 44 minutes and Alex in under 54 minutes. Both of them play football as well as many other sports, but still pounded the concrete in the run-up to the race to make sure they were capable of finishing.

Tommy said: “I ran a bit with my mum but these were just short three-mile jogs but the weekend before I ran a five-mile distance with Alex and felt really good.

“On the race day I started really quickly and thought I would have to slow down but I didn’t and this made me feel great.

“It was really brilliant and knowing we were doing it for charity made it even better.”

Alex, whose father, Lawrence Levy, owns Levy Associates, said he found the race more difficult than he imagined but an experience he definitely wants to repeat.

He added: “It was amazing to start at the front with the Sky Sports reporter, Geoff Shreeves, and get back within an hour. I can’t wait for us to do it again next year.”

The two boys, who were amongst four under 15s given special permission to enter the six-mile cross-country race, are now collecting their sponsor money and hope to raise over �100.