Durham City Harriers had 5 young athletes competing in top National Competitions last week – Adam Ord and Tyler Thomas who qualified for the 87th English Schools Track & Field Championships at Birmingham, and Tia Anderson, Ryan Watson, and Cameron Thomas making the journey over to Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, for the International Catholic Schools Federation Games. Firstly, Adam Ord (u/17),  in the Junior Boys 800m, ran a fine race, and recorded a personal best time of 2.02.34 in his heat to qualify for the final where he finished 8th, recording 2.05.11. and was well pleased in reaching the final against tough opposition. Tyler Thomas (u/15) also ran well in his heat of the Junior Boys 100m finishing 5th in his heat and recording a fine time of 11.65, but did not qualify for the semifinals.
Meanwhile, at the Catholic International Schools Federation Games, the in-form Tia Anderson (u/15) had the difficult choice to make as to which Championships to take part in as she qualified for both but decided the trip to Italy was the final choice. As it turned out, Tia ran the heats of the 200m and qualified for the Final with a time of 25.74 and in the Final the next day finished 4th in a personal best time of 25.60. Later that day she ran in the heats of the 400m and qualified for the Final with a time of 60.24, and in the Final she finished 2nd, recording another personal best time of 57.83 – two excellent results. Ryan Watson (u/17) also had a fine Games too, firstly finishing 4th in the Final of the 1500m recording 4.18.59, and the next day finishing 4th again in the 3000m recording 9.35.43, just missing out on a podium finish but improving on his personal bests by 3secs and 16secs respectively. Cameron Thomas (u/17) finished 7th in the 1500m Final recording 4.27.58, and recording 2.07.00 in the 800m Heats.

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In the British Milers Club Series (1500m) at Chester-le-Street, times as follows were recorded; Rob Everson (snr) 4.22.70pb, Michael Wade (u/20) 4.25.53pb, Peter Cook(u/15) 4.30.51pb, Luke Pickering (u/20) 4.41.32, Erin Keeler-Clarke 5.10.04, and at the British Milers Club Grand Prix at Loughborough, Samantha Coleby recorded a seasons best time of 2.08.35 for the 800m.

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At the Pitstop 10k (Croft Circuit) Dalton on Tees, there was a personal Club battle for supremacy with James Askew finishing 1st in a time of 33.04, and Matt Hornsby (v/35) finishing 2nd in a time of 33.12 (1st veteran). Megan Bell (v/35)  was the only woman to run from the Club and finished 182nd in 56.36.

Athletics Report – Young Athletes Reach Their National Finals