English success at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Slovakia

The summer of sport is certainly hotting up with major domestic and international championships taking place this month. The junior Great Britain and Northern Ireland athletes have been putting on a show in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia with 11 medals won across the competition.

We are proud to support 13 of the 34 athletes selected throughout our Youth Talent Programme (YTP), with Thea Brown (Joanne Harding, Sale Harriers) medalling at the championships. Speaking about the support of the YTP Talent Pathways Manager, Alan Richardson, said:

"Part of an athlete's development journey is competition, and the championship arena is a key learning environment for under 18 athletes. It is fantastic to see so many YTP athletes being selected to compete at international championships and be able to use the skills and knowledge they have learnt as part of the programme within the championship experience. The quality of performance at the European Championships is testament to the ongoing work of the athlete and coach pairs as they continue their journey."

Here's how the English contingent got on:

The middle distance squad have been displaying their dominance across the continent, taking home three gold medals.

It was an incredible run from Lyla Belshaw (David Smith, Colchester Harriers) who went two positions better than her 1500m Commonwealth Youth Games bronze, to set a new Championship record of 4:13.01. England's Isla McGowan (Ros Kelling, Banbury) wasn't far behind to finish in second with 4:14.78.

The gold medals kept coming across the middle distances with a tight race in the women's 3000m as Katie Pye (Mick Woods, Aldershot Farnham and District) battled it out with teammate Olivia Forrest (Paul Forrest, Brentwood Beagles). It was not until the final straight when Pye made her dash, grasping the opportunity with both hands overtaking Germany's Ehrle and Forrest to finish victorious in 9:20.25. Olivia Forrest finished in third place with 9:21.66.

Matthew McKenna (Martin Norman, Walton) finished the championships in style to take gold in the men's 800m final. Another close race, it was neck and neck with teammate and YTP athlete Tom Waterworth as his final surge pipped Tom to the tape. The pair finished in first (1:52.91) and fifth (1:53.68) respectively.

In the women's event, the absence of Paris bound Phoebe Gill left the event wide open - an opportunity which Shaikira King (John Skevington, Wreake & Soar Valley) relished, going from fourth to second place in the final lap (2:04.29).

Sale Harriers' Thea Brown had an exciting first day of her heptathlon campaign, jumping a new lifetime best of 1.87m in the high jump to equal the world U18 lead, finishing the first day ahead of the pack on 3796 points. Her outstanding performances continued as she claimed silver overall, banking a new personal best of 5807, the second best ever by a Brit in this age group. Teammate Ava John (Yasmine Regis, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) finished in 14th place with 5237 points.

Joel Masters (Joel Humphries-Cuff, BFT Track Academy) put on his very own masterclass in the 100m as he won his semi-final in 10.56 to then finish second in the 100m final (10.51) followed by Joel Ajayi (Gary Howard, Havering) in third place (10.61).

Kara Dacosta (Stephen Ball, Trafford) led the charge in the women's 400m, winning her heat to rank second overall - a position which she would secure in the final to take the silver medal (52.60).

The final speed medal came from the women's medley relay, where Thea Brown, Kara Dacosta, Shiloh Omotosho (Sarah Robinson, Basildon) and Nell Desir (Lisa Waddon, Cardiff Archers) claimed a brilliant bronze.

Youth Talent Programme

Want to learn more about how the Youth Talent Programme can support you? Applications are currently open for the new cohort, all information and application details can be found below.

Image by European Athletics