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The U15 and U17 championships are always a sign of talent to come in English athletics, and as the 2011 event got off to a flying start at the Bedford International Stadium it was clear there was plenty to look forward to – both on the day, and into the future.

First event in the Field was U17 Men's Discus and the day started well for Nicholas Percy, from Isle of Wight AC, whose throw of 56.42 was never really threatened, despite Ricky Doran of Newbury AC achieving a personal best of 48.63 to place second.  In the U17 Women’s Long Jump however, results didn’t follow form and a competition that included 19 no jumps saw Sutton and District’s Jaisha Thomas achieve a winning personal best of 5.85m with her very last jump, placing her beyond the reach of Danielle McGifford from Wigan & District AC, who jumped 5.64 to finish second, and Jessica Leek from Cannock & Staffordshire who, perhaps unsettled by an early controversial no jump, could only find 5.54m.

The U17 high jump brewed nicely to reach an exciting climax that saw Enfield and Haringey’s Chris Kandu battle for first place with Newbury’s Alex Craninx.  With only the two left in the competition Craninx cleared 2.02 on his first attempt to equal his personal best whereas Kandu took two attempts to achieve the same height and for him a new PB.  With the bar raised to 2.05 both jumpers slugged it out, but neither could succeed, so first place went to Craninx.  With two so well matched athletes, high jump fans can look forward to yet more close competition in the future.

In the long jump Trafford AC’s Jerrell Marchan produced an outstanding 6.56m, the best jump by an U15 boy this year, to thwart Havering Mayesbrook’s Alex Law, who was some way off his best with just 6.37m.  Not to be outdone by such stellar achievements, Camelia Hayes of Aldershot Farnham and District upped her personal best to 1.77m to win the U17 women’s high jump.

The first day on the track saw a mix of heats and finals, with Natalie Hackett from Hallamshire Harriers Sheffield dominating her field in the U17W 3000m, and Chelmsford’s Jessica Judd doing likewise in the U17W 1500m.  In the U17 100m final  Kelvin Tairou bettered his PB by just .06 of a second to achieve a UK best this year and take the title home to Newham and Essex Beagles, while Trafford AC’s Jack Crabtree shaved an impressive six seconds off his PB to take the U15 boys' 3000m title and smash the previous CBP into the bargain.  In the U15 boys' 100m Herne Hill Harrier’s Zanson Plummer reversed the rankings to beat UK number one Tommy Ramdhan of Bexley, with an impressive time of 11.11.

Tomorrow sees interesting clashes between U15 girls Morgan Lake and Ebony Wake as the combined eventers compete across a series of events on both field and track.  Exciting talent Clovis Asong of Sale Harriers will also be one to watch, having today posted the fastest time in the U17 men 400m heats – 47.64, showing a real threat to Mark Richardson’s UK Best of 46.43.  There will be much more to look forward too, so get there early to bag the best seat!

Full results are also online - click here to view. 
Click here to read Day 2 report

Photo: U17W discus winners - by Nicola Evans

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