A busy weekend of athletics with cross country in Leeds, road running in Chelmsford and indoor athletics at the Lea Valley centre.
The cross country meeting was the English Schools Cup Championship involving teams having qualified via their schools in the intermediate girls age group two Essex teams came away with place medals. Chelmsford High School found CAC`s Lily Sanford 17th leading them home with Isabella Eida 23rd and Francesca Phillips 28th with Esme Thomas from the Brentwood club 39th to bring a score of 107 points. New Hall School had taken an early advantage with Brentwood`s Heidi Woodley 7th and CAC Ava King 16th and then had Isabella Forrest 41st and Missy Tiller 49th - both Brentwood - bringing a score of 113 points. Other Chelmsford members competing here saw under 13 year Mason Sanford a most respectable 6th. whilst Jacob Parrott ran well for 10th spot in the intermediate boys event. Orla Martin in the senior girls race placed 30th whilst in the senior boys Harry Wright placed 24th.
Moving to the Chelmsford organized road races over different distances three of our young women tackled their first half marathon and took the first three places in their class. Hannah Bolton placed 40th overall in 84m 46s, but with only men ahead of her. Megan Williams placed 51st in 86m 18s with Rachel Broome with the clock showing 90m 12s. In the shorter run of 5k Austin Kelly led the field and timed at 17m 03s with young Isabella Perks taking a very respectable 9th place.
The Essex indoor combined with the East of England championships brought Chelmsford many medals with the under 17 age groups heading this haul. On the men`s side Harry Lee recorded a double taking the hurdles (8.32s) and long jump (5.79m)titles. Arsenii Handzil came up with a pb of 1.85m for the high jump title. Ben Smith placed fourth in the 800 metres but in the Essex result claimed the bronze medal. From the women there was a double from Amelie Scott with 8.71s in the hurdles and 5.50m for the long jump, Matilda Hewitt won the shot putt with an effort of 13.70m - just one centimetre short of a pb. Whilst Jessica Gardner with a pb finished in third place. Amy Pugsley claimed the triple jump title with 10.43m and it was a win for Lily Hartman over 300 metres in 41.09s with Nicole Hawkins third with 42.45s. Over 800 metres there was a third spot for Jessica Walker with her time of 2m24.83s. Isabella Johnson was the winner of her heat in 7.95s but unfortunately sustained an injury in doing so therefore could not take part in the semi finals.
Moving to the under 20`s and Sophie Catchpole after taking the hurdles title`s in 8.95s returned the following day to again top the rostrum for the 400 m title with 58.93s.. For the men`s 200m Sam Lawson placed third in the 200m in 22.57s.
Up to the seniors and Luke Oliver claimed the 800m title with 1m 54.94s and followed this with 4m 25.45s in the 1500m taking the bronze medal for the Eastern and silver from the Essex championships. There was also silver for Jacob Alexander with his pb of 52.04s over 400m, for Grace Tremelling in the long jump (5.23m) and Teegan Rayner over 800m (2m 21.23s). Praise here for Laura Durn a vet in the over 45 category for her 2m34.18s.
To the under 15`s and Jack Reid repeated his success in the Southern championships high jump with 1.75m. Fred Ferman put in a pb of 2m 08.95 over the 800 metres for the gold placings. George Dixon, hurdles and Zach Ikharebore came away with bronze medals. From the girls Olivia Mullineaux achieved a pb in the shot putt with 11.40m whilst in this event Saya Saunders was third in the Essex result - a placing also taken by Abigail McElroy in the 60m dash.
To the under 13`s and Breena Dosumu came away with silver medals from the high jump and 60 metres - an event which also saw Jack Armbruster take second place with a pb of 8.34s. There was numerous others putting in personal bests and even reaching the finals and congratulations are due but in general I have had to restrict to those gaining medals.
Essex & Eastern Indoor Day 1 Gallery here
Essex & Eastern Indoor Day 2 Gallery here
Report written by Roy Meadowcroft
