Page 21 - Summer2018Gazette

Athletics Report 21

The Mini Olympics for English Schools

Birmingham 12th and 13th July 2018

The age groups are divided into the final of the long jump. Rico
Blackheath and Bromley HAC three with junior (school years 8 Cottell (John Blackie) had a
athletes were all over the 88th -9), inter (years 10-11) and senior difficult time in the hurdle heat
English Schools track and field (years 12-13), with the added ex- hampered by a leg injury and
championship, held over two days citement for the inters of the top would have qualified comfort-
in glorious weather, at Birming- two finishers being automat- ably injury free. Peter Guy (Ni-
ham’s Alexander stadium. ically selected to compete for gel Stickings) earned his right
These “mini Olympics” attracted England in the following week’s to compete for London schools
the best young athletes from home international. and ran hard in the heats, just
all of England’s counties from missing out on a place in the
Cornwall to Northumberland Inter boys finals. Matthew Francis (Nigel
and Kent to Cumbria and all Oscar Heaney Brufal (coach Roy Stickings) sliced over 3 second
inbetween not forgetting the Dickens) fresh from represent- off his personal best in the 1500
Channel Islands and the Isle of ing Gibraltar in the European
Man. A massive number of over U18s Championship, took his heats (4:00.58) to qualify for the
fifty BB athletes were selected opportunity well to win the final where he finished 8th. Ben
for their schools counties but 400m hurdles, earning himself Gardiner (David Liston)ran well
were often hard to spot as they in his first English schools fin-
were sporting the not so familiar another international vest. ishing 9th in the tough 1500m
colours of their counties. steeplechase.
Ollie Briars (coach Jay Galley)
ran superbly to claim silver in Inter girls
the 400m (new PB of 49.04) The inter girls also had the
and will also collect his England prospect of an England vest if
vest ready to compete next placing first or second and Holly
Saturday in Grangemouth, Scot- Mpassy (Jay Galley) ran superbly
land, in the home international. to claim silver and an England
Multi eventer Harrison Thorn call up.
(Carol Jackson) jumped a new
massive personal best and first Hannah MacAulay (Herbie
time over 2m, clearing 2.01 Kuenstlinger) was at her best
in the high jump, will also be in the discus collecting a fine
rewarded with an England vest. bronze. Morgan Squibb (Andy
Pedro Gleadall (Neil Gleadall) Frankish) ran a committed
was just outside the medals 1500m Senior steeplechase
in coming 4th in the Javelin, taking it out from the gun and
throwing 57.22. Oliver Bright with four athletes still it at the
(Nigel Stickings) ran brilliant final straight Morgan did well
and bravely to secure a great to place third, winning a great
4th in the inter 1500m. Kyle English school bronze. Ava
Reynolds Warmington (Phil White (Phil Kissi) ran well in
Kissi) ran well through the heats 1500m final placing 5th in a
of the 100m sprint placing 4th very competitive race. Eleanor
in the final and dipping under Barrett (John Wakeman) con-
11sec running 10.98 in the semi. tinued her good form placing
Myles Xavier (Paul Patten) equal fifth in the pole vault, her
picked a fine time to do a PB highest English schools placing
6.61m, finishing a high 5th in and Lois Warden (Gordon John