Two young athletes Tia Anderson and Ben Horsfield from Durham were somewhat disappointed at the English Schools Track & Field Championships in Birmingham on 12th/13th July as they both missed out from reaching the Final in their respective events against some very strong opposition. Tia and Ben qualified for these prestigious Championships and both had been selected to represent Durham County Schools having met the National Standard previously. Tia was first to compete in the Intermediate Girls 300m and after a good start could not get into the first 2 to qualify as of right, plus 2 fastest losers, she did have one of the next two fastest times having finished 4th in her Heat recording 41.20, obviously disappointing for her, but she has another chance next year hopefully to compete. Ben was next up in the Senior Boys 800m but again after a pretty fast start the pace then slowed and then he got boxed in and lost places and when he eventually got out the pace had picked up by then it was too late and Ben although finishing fast had to settle for 4th in his Heat recording 1.56.37 which unfortunately was his last Schools race.
Meanwhile in the NEYDL (North East Youth Development League) held at Middlesbrough last month results are now to hand but the turnout was somewhat disappointing as in most of the events Durham had only 1 athlete instead of 2, i.e. A & B strings to pick up valuable points . However, those who did compete enjoyed the Competition and some tried alternative events for the very first time. Results were as follows:
( u/13 Boys):
100m (A) Alex Renstrom 6th 14.68. 200m (A) Sam Mason 3rd 30.08, (B) Alex Renstrom 2nd 32.45. 800m (A) Sam Mason 2nd 2.27.36. 1500m (A) Aiden Wilkinson 4th 5.26.65. 75m Hurdles (A) William Terry 1st 14.26. L/Jump (A) Alex Renstrom 3rd 3.77m .
Javelin (A) William Terry 3rd 22.94m. Shot (A ) William Terry 2nd 6.96m.
(u/13 Girls):
100m (A) Anna Dale 6th 15.81. (B) Evie Peart 6th 16.92. 200m (A) Anna Dale 6th 34.97. 1500m (A) Evie Peart 5th 5.59.23. Long Jump (A) 4th Anna Dale 4th 3.53m.
(B) Evie Peart 6th 2.44m.
(u/15 Boys):
100m (A) Travis Anderson (4th) 12.54 (B) Joseph Richards (4th) I3.70. 200m (A)
Travis Anderson (3rd) 25.71 (B) Thomas Hine (5th) 28 8l , plus non scorer, Joseph Richards 28.89. 800m (A) Sean McKay (3rd) 2.18.85 (B) Thomas Hine 5th 28.81 , non scorer , Joseph Richards 28.89. 1500m (A) Sam Terry 1st 4.39.34. Relay 4xl00m 3rd 54.20. Long Jump (A) Thomas Hine 4.17m (B) Joseph Richards 4th 3.97m, plus non scorer Ben Coffer 3.79m. High Jump (A) Sean McKay 3rd 1.30m. Discus (A) Ben Coffer 4th 11.74m. Shot Putt (A) Travis Anderson 4th 7.47m. (B) Sam Terry 2nd 7.10m.
(u/15 Girls):
100m(A) Cody Hall. 3rd 13.10. (B) Megan Hauxwell 5th 14.66, plus non scorer Ava Warner 15.08. 200m Cody Hall 4th 27.95, (B) Jessica Peart 5th 30.36 , non scorer Ava Warner 32.86. 300m (A) Megan Hauxwell 4th 48.80. 800m (A) Rachel Dann 6th 2.49.42.1500m (A) Jessica Peart 2nd 5.23.29.(B) Megan Hauxwell 3rd 5.43.80.Long Jump (A) Rachel Dann 5th 3.42m .
(u/17 Men) :
100m (A) Tyler Thomas 3rd 12.21. 1500m (A) Peter Cook 3rd 4.37.21. Shot Putt (A) Tyler Thomas 6th 6.87m.
(u/17 Women) :
100m (A) Tia Anderson 2nd 12.75, (B) Amy Colling 2nd 13.25.
200m (A) Amy Colling 3rd 28.43, (B) Lauren Etchells 1st 44.50,
Relay 4x100m (3rd) 52.59.
Long Jump (A) Lauren Etchells 5th 4.05m.
Final overall score 6th Team 316 points.