Combined Events crowns up for grabs
After the first day of the England Athletics Combined Events championships for our U17 and U15 athletes, the points totals are close and another day's competition tomorrow should see some changes in the standings as ahletes compete in weaker or stronger events.
U15 Boys' Octathlon
It was a great start for Aran Thomas (Club: Wakefield District H & AC, Coach: Michael Swain) with a 6cm PB in the high jump and over a metre on his previous javelin best to 44m04 which moved him from the day's consistent 4th to top position at the close of the day. Ben Hughes (Club: Wigan & District H & AC, Coach: Sharon-Louise Walls) finished the day in second after taking a second off his 100m time at the start of the day, but lost some points in the final javelin. The top two are however split by only 9 points and third placed Dylan Baines (Club: Stevenage & North Herts AC) acquitted himself well in his first multi-event championship. With scores close and top ranked Adesina not on the start line this morning, it's all to play for tomorrow.
U15B top 4 at end of Day 1
Aran THOMAS: 1,942
Ben HUGHES: 1,933
Dylan BAINES: 1,800
Freddie REILLY: 1,780
U15B Day 1 results in full (PDF)
U15 Girls' Hexathlon
With such a huge entry it was not unexpected that the positions changed regularly throughout the day's competition. Mia Chantree (Club: Chelmsford AC, Coach: Philip Sergeant) was in 8th after her 75m hurdles but soon pulled back the places with the longest long jump of the day which equalled her PB from just last week at the SEAA champs, plus almost 27m in her first recorded javelin competition - her usual strength being the Pentathlon. Finishing the day just ahead of her was clubmate Jess Hopkins (Coach: Steve Mitchell) who clocked a PB in the hurdles and in the long jump, and finished with a huge javelin throw of 36m59. Samantha Harris (Club: Almost Athletes, Coach: Roger Harris) started as she meant to go on with a PB of 11.48 in the hurdles, followed by joint furthest long jump, and a strong javelin, finishing 3rd at the end of the day by just 17 points. A strong consistent day from Grace Morgan (Club: Cardiff Archers, Coach: Nigel Lewis), including a PB in the javelin keeps her in the running, currently lying in 4th.
U15G top 4 at end of Day 1
Jess HOPKINS: 1,947
Mia CHANTREE: 1,747
Samantha HARRIS: 1,730
Grace MORGAN: 1,711
U15G Day 1 results in full (PDF)
U17 Men's Decathlon
The U17 men had a busy day with five events contested. Scott Connal (Club: Whitemoss AAC, Coach: Iain McEwan) provided the fastest 100m at the start of the day and held onto his huge lead after the long jump but was then pushed down the positions by Joshua Hewett (Club: Liverpool Harriers & AC, Coach: Grant Brown) and Joel McFarlane (Club: Arbroath & District AC) who bested him in the shot put and high jump. Indoor High Jump champion Hewett still won that event with 1m92 although the windy conditions meant it was well below his PB, and put the shot over 12m which was a clear PB for him. Last year's triple champion (indoor and outdoor ocatathlon and indoor heptathlon) Joel McFarlane ran PBs in his 100m, long jump, and shot put to finish the day just 16 points shy of the lead. Joss Moffatt (Club: Rushcliffe AC, Coach: Macdonald Blackman) is also on form with PBs in his first four events. There were some excellent individual performances including Peter Keefe (Club: Stevenage & North Herts AC, Coach: Norma Harris AC) adding a metre onto his shot put PB and 11.51 for Kellen Jones (Club: Newport Harriers, Coach: Nigel Lewis) in the 100m.
U17M top 4 at end of Day 1
Joshua HEWETT: 3,410
Joel MCFARLANE: 3,396
Scott CONNAL: 3,255
Joss MOFFATT: 3,211
U17M Day 1 results in full (PDF)
U17 Women's Heptathlon
Jade O'Dowda (Club: Oxford City AC, Coach: Marcia Marriott) held onto top spot throughout the day with strong performances in all her events; last year's champion was keen to retain her title. She achieved a huge PB in the shot put which also beat every other competitor in the 26-strong field. Her hurdles time was also the best of the day, tied with Holly McArthur (Club: Edinburgh AC, Coach: Iain McEwan) and she finished by being the only athlete to break the 3,000 point barrier by the last event of Day 1. 121 points behind was Holly who provided solid performances and moved from 5th to 2nd after the 200m and will hope for some PBs in Day 2. Just a few points behind her is last year's U15 Hexathlon winner Emily Race (Club: Worksop Harriers, Coach: John Smith) with PBs on Day 1 in high jump and hurdles. And with just 4 points to gain, currently in 4th is Alice Linaker (Club: City of York, Coach: Matt Barton) with a joint top high jump clearance with Emily and also PBs in the hurdles and 200m. Alexa Eichelmann and Natasha Smith had good individual performances in the shot and high jump respectively which puts them in the running for medals if they can maintain a strong Day 2.
U17W top 4 at end of Day 1
Jade O'DOWDA: 3,020
Holly MCARTHUR: 2,899
Emily RACE: 2,868
Alice LINAKER: 2,864