Loughborough Pathway International 2023

The inaugural Loughborough Pathway International saw England’s 20-strong team of young throwers give an exciting glimpse of what is clearly going to be a bright future for the sport.

It was billed pre-event as ideal preparation for some of the country's most talented athletes across discus, hammer, javelin, and shot put, and it did not disappoint.

Para-athletes competed as part of the England set-up at the Paula Radcliffe track, Loughborough University, with the target being nomination standards for the Commonwealth Youth Games, European U20 and U23 championships, world athletics, and world-para championships.

Shot put

Among the highlights of the day saw Amy Thompson (coach: Dave Brown, club: Liverpool Pembroke and Sefton) equal her personal best (PB) in the women’s U18 shot put with 7.94m, which is a world paralympic consideration standard.

Fabio Zamparelli (Mo Pearson, Cornwall AC) threw a personal best of 13.89m in his first England vest during the F20 men’s U23 shot put.

England men’s captain for the Loughborough Pathway International, Isaac Delaney (Greg Beard, Preston Harriers), finished first in the U20 shot put with 16.51m.

Annabel Amadin (Robert Gaisie, Sale Harriers) finished first in the U18 women’s shot put with 15.13m.

Hammer

In the hammer competition,Kai Barham (Paul Head, Dartford Harriers AC) won the U20 men’s event with 70.58m for a PB and European U20 standard.

Owen Merrett (John Pearson, Yate AC) finished second behind Kai with 66.81m.

England women’s captain for the Loughborough Pathway International, Charlotte Payne, finished first in the U23 women’s hammer with 69.28m.

Discus

Taia Tunstall (Harrow AC) came first in the U23 women’s discus with a throw of 48.80m.

In the U18 women’s discus, Nubia Evans-Shield (Graham Moncur, City of Plymouth AC) posted a PB of 44.86m, closing in on the Commonwealth Youth Games standard.

Bebe Jackson (David Bauer, Harrow AC) threw a personal best of 22.67m in the F44 U18 women’s discus whilst Caden Uzoigwe (Michael Martin, Trafford) and Teddy Gannon (Garry Power, WSEH) were third and fourth respectively in the U20 men’s competition, with 51.24m and 49.28m.

Javelin

Meanwhile, in the U18 javelin, Tom Rutter (John Waugh, HAWC) threw 64.76m for a PB and Michael Allison (Tom Dobbing, WSEH) also got a personal best with 72.34m in the U20 javelin, which is a European U20 standard. Charlie Evans (Felicity Dawes, Banbury Harriers) and Callum Taylor (Bronwin Carter, Harrow AC) were just behind Michael with 66.37m and 64.98, respectively.

Sophie Hamilton (David Turner, Bristol and West) finished first in the U20  women’s javelin with a PB of 50.30m, which is also a European U20 standard.

Harriet Wheeler (David McKay, West Cheshire) and Ayesha Jones (Janina Pownall, Marshall Milton Keynes AC) were first and second, respectively, in the women’s U18 competition, with 47.21m (PB for Harriet) and 46.50m.

Ben East (Luke Angell, Team Kennet) was the winner of the men’s U23 javelin competition with 72.91m.

Bebe Jackson, said:

“It was a really great experience. A big eye opener for me and my discus journey. Hopefully more to come from this opportunity”.

Kai Barham said:

“The whole weekend was a great experience. The chance to represent my country is always such an honour and privilege, and the nature of this competition, being an international, gave me some valuable lessons that I can take forward into major championships on the future. The atmosphere was brilliant. There was a really good crowd that I could really take energy from, and I think that was a big part of what helped me to throw a new personal best and a European U20 qualification standard. I absolutely loved the competition, and hopefully I get the chance to return at some point in the future.”

Paul Head, England Team Leader, said:

“It was a good day of competition, with several new and repeat qualifiers for this year’s age group championships. There were new experiences for some competing against other competitors from other countries, many lessons learnt, and opportunities to be taken. A great initiative to be built on.”