England Athletics Age Group Combined Events Championships 2026: Looking to the future

World class performances in the combined events and Para Championships made for an exciting first day of action in Bedford. With places already available for next year’s World Paras in Uzbekistan, it was no surprise to see quality of athlete this event attracted. And of course that was mirrored in the combined events, which provided England’s best age groupers the perfect opportunity to sign off the 2026 track season in style. Here’s how the action unfolded:

U18 Women’s Heptathlon

The early leader was Isabelle Knight (James Wright, Rugby and Northampton) thanks to a 14.11 win the 100 hurdles. But after a fabulous high jump in which three cleared 1.66, it was Leila Newth (Dave Johnson, Ealing and Southall) who took over in the top spot. The British record holder in the triple jump had run 14.84 in the hurdles, but after her high jump she moved up from fifth to lead by 40 points.

She then produced a personal best of 10.45 in the shot but couldn’t hang on to the top spot because Keira Oxley (John Shepherd, Guildford and Godalming) threw a superb 14.02 for a massive personal best. Oxley headed to the next event, the 200 metres as the leader, 116 points clear. What a way to celebrate her birthday! Three PBs (14.95 hurdles, 1.57 high jump along with the shot) and counting.

Knight ended day one as she started it, with a clear victory. This time she took the 200 metres in 24.79, which put her back in first, 37 points ahead of Oxley who clocked 26.55.

U16 Girls Heptathlon

Juliette Callau (Craig Pounder, City of York) produced the standout performance in 80 hurdles with 11.67. In an earlier heat, Oluwagbemisola Majiyagbe (David Rice, St Mary’s) ran a huge personal best of 12.29.

Callau followed that with 5.03 in the long jump to retain the overall lead, but U15 fourth placer, Seren Rowe (Julia Machin, Brighton and Hove) edged a little closer thanks to her opening jump of 5.24 while Majiyagbe slipped back to third with 4.99. Ahead of both of them, Harriet Stichbury (Leanne Wellings, Wycombe Phoenix) was rewarded with 5.29 in the second round for 640pts which also put her in the mix.

But it was all change after the javelin as Sophie Horsfall-Samb (Craig Pounder, City of York) threw a monster 43.97, more than seven metres clear of her closest competitor. That moved the U17 bronze medallist from seventh into the top spot.

Would it all change again after the final event of the first day, the 150 metres? The answer to that was yes. Isla Boardman (Crewe and Nantwich) emerged from the chasing pack thanks to her 19.34 to take over in first place with 2725. Horsfall-Samb who ran 20.74 was second and Stichbury who clocked 19.77, third.

U18 Men’s Decathlon

It took just 11.24 seconds for Caleb Green (Marie Burnett, Cheltenham & County) to stamp his authority on the competition. The indoor champion and an athlete over 7000 points this season eased across the line in the 100 metres to get what proved to be a tremendous first day under way. Behind him, there was a long string of personal bests to confirm the pre-event favourite would have to work hard all day long.

Green increased his lead after a 6.95 while one of the pre-event names to watch, Zac Richings (Brian Camp, Poole) jumped 6.84 with his final jump to move him up to second overall from seventh.

Green fouled his first attempt in the shot which did add an element of jeopardy for a few moments, but his 13.19 in the second round and a final throw of 13.59 meant he stretched ever further away as Richings even though he threw a lifetime best of 11.43.

He continued on his way with a controlled looking 1.70 clearance in the high jump. But he could go no higher which allowed Richings to close the gap considerably thanks to his 1.91.  

But Green composed himself to run a superb 50.26 to once again stretch away from Richings, who ran 51.60.

U16 Boys Octathlon

The 100 metres perfectly demonstrated why this Championships is so exciting. The first heat of the 100 metres saw a very smooth looking Lev Popov (TVH) clock 11.83 for his first ever official time in that event. It was a similar story one heat later as Story Bundy (Alex Pope, St Augustine and Canterbury Schools) clocked 11.79, again a debut clocking.

Getting in on the PB act was Joshua Gilbert (St Mary’s Richmond) who won his heat in 11.30 to take an early overall lead. He kept the pressure on with 6.34 in the long jump that saw five go beyond six metres.

That unpredictability continued with the next discipline; as ever, the pole vault shuffled the pack as this age group always features athletes at different stages of their development in this massively technical event. After 90 intense minutes, it was Jack Ruby who emerged as the event leader. He cleared 3.55 to add to his 11.31 100 metres and 5.65 long jump for 1801pts and first place.

Day one ended with the javelin where Arthur Rogers (Bob Willows, Brighton and Hove) eased into the lead thanks to his 56.22 third round throw. Ruby responded with a lifetime best of 39.48 to head back to his hotel in second. Freddie Strong (John Little, Border Harriers) was also impressive completing the reshuffle of the podium places thanks to his 52.15.

Para Champs

The very first event of the morning, the women’s discus set the tone for the day. Paralympic shot bronze medallist Anna Nicholson, F35 (Richard Kaufman, Gateshead), claimed the para discus title after throwing a season's best of 24.79m in the sixth round. Rachel Leck, F38 (Caterina Hallden, Jersey Spartan), threw 29.17m to finish second on points.

As form suggested the women’s 100 metres was all about Macey Hand, T64 (Camilla Stewart, Wenlock Olympians) v Hetty Bartlett, T38 (John Herbert, City of Norwich). It was Bartlett who prevailed in 13.95 to Hand’s 14.12. Later, the 200 metres produced the same result as Bartlett flew to 28.80 in front of Hand’s 29.53.

The men’s frame running 100 metres was a close-run thing. Finley Menzies, T72 (Corstorphine) is the world bronze medallist but had to dig deep to hold off Chris Callow, T72 (Robert Purcell, Yate). Just 0.03sec separated the pair, Menzies winning in 16.67 to Callow’s huge PB of 16.70. It was a repeat in the 200 metres as Menzies once again hung on to win 33.19 to 33.57, both exceptional times.

Columba Blango, T20 (Chris Zah, Shaftesbury Barnet) finished the men’s 400 metres full of running, stopping the clock in 50.71. Ireland’s Lana Sutton, T38 (Daniel Brooker, Brighton and Hove) was equally dominant on her way to a personal best of 61.81 in the women’s 400.

Elliott Griffiths, T20 (Mike Holmes, Liverpool Harriers) and Wales’s Olivia Breen, F38, (Aston Moore, City of Portsmouth) were the names to watch in the long jump and so it proved. Griffiths won the men’s competition with 6.44 while Breen, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist jumped 4.98.

Useful information

• Age group combined events and senior para results and timetable are available here.
• Tickets can be bought here.
• The championships will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
• Photos from the combined events and para championships will be available from Pat Isaacs here.