England Athletics Age Group Combined Events and Para Championships 2026: Signing off in style

Day two picked up where day one had left off with plenty of drama, excitement and unpredictability to keep everybody on their toes. Overnight leaders were put under pressure, recovery programmes were put to the test and as everybody discovered on Saturday, Sunday produced yet another series of surprising results that confirmed 2026 has been a fabulous season but 2027 promises so much more. Here’s how day two’s action unfolded:

U18 Women’s Heptathlon

It was no surprise that Leila Newth (Dave Johnson, Ealing and Southall) re-established herself as a serious contender after the long jump. The British age group record holder in the triple jump improved to 5.72 with her second effort to move from fourth to second. Ahead of her, the overnight leader Isabelle Knight (James Wright, Rugby and Northampton) recorded 5.41 but behind her three or four rivals were all still in with a shout.

And one of those was Welsh athlete Tiana Odugbesan (Phillip Warwicker, Cardiff Archers). Ordinarily her 34.84 in the javelin perhaps wouldn’t be that significant but Knight failed to record a mark so Odugbesan took over as the overall leader for what would become yet another change up front. Newth remained in second with 27.83, 86 points behind. But given there was just one event to run – the 800 metres – that appeared to be that in terms of the overall win. However, with just eight points between second and Keira Oxley (John Shepherd, Guildford and Godalming) in third and therefore the England title, it was still all to play for.

And until the final 150 metres it was indeed open to debate as the pair tracked each other closely. However, at that point Newth edged away to secure second in the race and overall: 2:29.27 to 2:30.54. That meant she was crowned as the England champion (4908pts), while in fourth Wales’s Odugbesan was the overall winner with 4955pts. Oxley scored 4884pts.

U16 Girls Heptathlon

After a long high jump competition lasting the best part of two hours, it was as you were for the top three. Overnight leader Isla Boardman (Crewe and Nantwich) cleared 1.50 as did Sophie Horsfall-Samb (Craig Pounder, City of York), while Harriet Stichbury (Leanne Wellings, Wycombe Phoenix) finished with 1.47.

Horsfall-Samb eased into pole position after the shot. Her second-round throw of 11.43 gave her 117pts more than Boardman, who opened with 9.64 but could go no further. All of that meant Horsfall-Samb lined up for the 600 with what looked like a comfortable 57-point lead.

However, the 600 metres was far from comfortable as Stichbury, in fourth overall, flew through the opening 200 in 28 seconds and 400 in a touch over 60 in an attempt to haul back the 100-plus points she trailed the bronze medallist Seren Rowe (Julia Machin, Brighton and Hove) by. It was a great effort and she hung on for 1:41.10 by a couple of thousandths of a second from… Rowe who was more than ready for the challenge on this occasion. Behind them, Horsfall-Samb and Boardman were locked together at 1:50.04 to 1:50.44 for an equally close finish.

All of which meant when the dust settled, Horsfall-Samb was the winner with 4538, Boardman second with 4487 and Rowe picked up the bronze with 4427.

U18 Men’s Decathlon

Caleb Green (Marie Burnett, Cheltenham & County) picked up where he left off Saturday evening. Just 16 hours earlier he had won the 400 metres and clearly, he’d recovered from that as despite the early start he was just shy of his personal best in the 110 hurdles, dipping to 14.35 for the win. In an earlier heat overnight second placer Zac Richings (Brian Camp, Poole) clocked 15.72 which meant just one point now separated second from third as Poland’s Marcel Ewertowski (Lauren Tyrrell, Harrow) ran 14.73.

The discus changed that as Richings improved by the best part of two metres with a final effort of 35.81 while Ewertowski had to settle for 29.57. Up front and stretching ever further away from the pack, Green produced 36.43 in the second round.

The pole vault was next and that went very much to form. Green cleared 3.40 while Richings went over 3.20. which meant barring complete disaster the destination of the gold and silver medals was decided.

Richings confirmed that with 41.07 while Green, the leader from the very first event back early on Saturday morning threw 45.74. And that was that apart, of course, from the 1500 metres. The big field consisting of 20 suitably tired decathletes cruised around with no drama, Green clocking 4:50.50 to conclude a great couple of days.

The final result was: 1, Green 6781; 2, Richings 6426; 3, Ewertowski 6151.

U16 Boys Octathlon

It was all change again in a competition where nothing could be taken for granted. Overnight leader Arthur Rogers (Bob Willows, Brighton and Hove) ran a solid enough 100 hurdles to get his day two going with 14.99, but Jack Ruby (Alex Pope, Blackheath and Bromley) went even quicker with 13.61 to take over as the overall leader. Freddie Strong (John Little, Border Harriers) continued where he had left off with 14.84 to strengthen his grip on the bronze medal.

But in a competition that chopped and changed with every event, nobody could really claim to have a tight grip. Rogers once again edged into the lead overall as a result of his 36.83 compared to Ruby’s 34.43, but it was only a ten-point advantage. Meanwhile, Strong remained in third after his 37.16

The pendulum swung in yet another direction after the high jump as Ruby found himself back in the lead thanks to 1.82 best compared to Rogers’s 1.64. But it was only temporary as his final attempt at 1.85 aggravated an injury he was carrying, and he had to be helped off to first aid. The 1000 metres is always a challenge but minutes later it became even more daunting for Ruby. Third placed Strong had entered the competition late but it was a move that paid off as his first-time clearance at 1.94 put him int the lead overall with a six-point advantage over Ruby.

Throw raw talent Story Bundy (Alex Pope, St Augustine and Canterbury Schools) into the mix and it was going to be interesting. He jumped just 2.20 in the pole vault but a string of great performances including a 46.46 javelin and 1.76 high jump had dragged him back to fourth and within sight of the top three.

The drama didn’t end with the 1000 metres. Ruby had to call it a day after just five metres (but still finished fourth overall despite scoring zero points) which left Strong out front on his own, clocking 3:08.91. Rogers (2:57.76) and Bundy (3:28.30) followed in a competition that had it all. The final result read: 1, Strong 4916; 2, Rogers 4878 and 3, Bundy 4538.

Para Champs

The men’s 1500 metres produced a classic head to head battle. Kieran O’Hara, T20 (Patrick Gahagan, Havering) surged to the lead with two laps to run only for James McKibbin, T20 (Mark Brace, North Devon) to pass him back immediately. The two ran stride for stride until the final 100 metres where O’Hara spotted a gap on the inside and took his chance. He won in 4:06.83 while McKibbin, T20 crossed the line in 4:08.43. Shauna Portwine (Durham City Harriers), T20 won the women’s race in 5:47.84.

After two tremendous sprints yesterday, Finley Menzies, T72 (Corstorphine) and Chris Callow, T72 (Robert Purcell, Yate) went head to head once again in the frame running 400 metres. As yesterday. Menzies prevailed but it’s close. Both recorded personal bests, Menzies taking gold with 71.17 and Callow the silver with 71.45.

England Athletics thanks everybody involved not just with this meeting but with the season as a whole. Without officials, volunteers, coaches, spectators, parents, and of course athletes none of this would be able to take place. So, thank you everybody!

Useful information

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