Fantastic performances in Fuerteventura

Last weekend, England Athletics travelled to the Canary Islands for the Fuerteventura International Combined Events Championships. There were a number of fantastic performances by the U18 and U20 Youth Talent Programme team, which included several personal bests and qualifying standards for this year’s European U18 and World U20 championships.

The Fuerteventura International was a fantastic opportunity for these athletes to showcase their talent, experience and knowledge that they have gained from the Youth Talent Programme. The athletes achieved many personal bests, boosting their overall combined events final scores, and standing them in good stead for the season ahead.

Samuel Newton (Tonbridge AC) finished first in the U20 men’s decathlon with a personal best score of 7531. This included personal bests in the 100m (11.31s), long jump (7.02m), shot put (14.33m), 110m hurdles (14.33s), pole vault (4.20m) and javelin (53.34m).

Oliver Downs (Invicta East Kent AC, Alex Pope) finished second in the U18 men’s decathlon with a personal best score of 7088. This included personal bests in the 100m (11.16s), shot put (15.42m), high jump (1.79m), 110m hurdles (14.41s) and javelin (58.60m).

Molly Mills (Sale Harriers, Jessica Taylor-Jemmett) finished first in the U18 women’s heptathlon with a personal best score of 5456. This included personal bests in the 100m hurdles (14.22s), shot put (13.19m) and javelin (47.59m).

Ryan McCaffery (Sale Harriers, Alexander Wort) was competing in the U20 men’s decathlon and also achieved a personal best in the 100m (11.14s).

Team Manager Phoebe White said:

"I’m incredibly proud not only of how well all of the athletes performed, but also of the professionalism, sportsmanship, and respect they demonstrated throughout the competition while representing England."