The England open championships for under 15 and 17 year athletes staged at Birmingham Alexandra Stadium found some 20 youngsters wearing the colours of Chelmsford AC competing for honours with two right on top of the podium come the presentations.
Both were to come from the shot putt with Jeremy Andersen taking the under 15 boys title as he recorded a personal best of 15.84m. In the discus event Jeremy placed 5th with 37.03m. In the same age group Monica Malagala took the girls title with a putt of 13.30m, in the discus a throw of 32.41m brought her a silver medal whilst in the hammer throw a distance of 43,22m was the reward of a pb and 5th place. After his success in all the championships this season it was a rare defeat for Joshua Babalola in the under 15 boys hammer. A throw of 52.98m, whilst below his best of 58.30m earlier in the month at Stoke, this time put into second place as William Stander of Woodford Green came up with a pb of 53.32. There was a second place gained by Amy Pugsley in the triple jump recording 10.74m to show her versatility after her performance in the pentathlon earlier in the month. Amy also just missed out on a medal in the high jump a 1.57m putting into 4th place. After her second place in the English Schools 800m it was another second place for Ezrah Harrold this time in the under 15 girls 1500m with a time of 4m 38.15s. For Daniel Brown a pb of 55.08s in the 400m hurdles for under 17`s earnt him the bronze medal. Out of the awards but performing with distinction with pb`s were Sophie Catchpole 300m hurdles 5th in 43.66s, Amelie Scott 11.75s over the 80m whist also contesting the triple jump, 4th, and long jump, 5th, in the under 15 year hurdles Chelsea Clarke ran 11.27s for a pb to win her heat before placing 6th in the final. In the under 15 boys 3000m Jacob Parrott finished 8th and the girls race for under 15`s saw Ava King 9th and Erin Kelly 10th. Under 17`s Daisy Stollery ran a pb for her 7th place.
Included in the programme were the multi events for under 20`s and here Zion Atebe with a pb of 4551 points placed 5th - other pb`s on route came from the long jump and 800 metres. Rosie Townley also set a pb with a total of 3776 points. In the men`s Senior decathlon event Kristian Brown placed 15th scoring 6035 points.
Report Written by Roy Meadowcroft
