Preview: England Athletics U15/U17 Indoor Combined Event and Junior Para Championships
These championships have previously proved a springboard for some of the best seniors in the country. Last weekend’s British indoor champions Sammy Ball and Thea Brown are former winners here, for example.
That trend will no doubt continue as the final indoor England Athletics championships of the winter take centre stage at the EIS Arena in Sheffield this weekend. As well as the national combined events championships for under 17s and under 15, the weekend will also feature the England junior para championships and masters’ international 400m races.
Under 17 men’s heptathlon
Caleb Green (Cheltenham & County, Marie Burnett), fifth outdoors at England level last year and the English Schools’ bronze medallist, leads the contenders on PBs, having scored 4052 last year. He has also won the Schools’ International this season. Ben Jeffs (Crewe & Nantwich) is hoping to improve on his fifth of last year.
Charles Reilly (Sheffield & Dearne, Brendan Reilly), who set a championship record when he was a big winner of the England under-15 octathlon last summer, is also in the line-up. Freddie Strong (Border, John Little), who won England indoor under-15 bronze last year and silver outdoors, is looking for a good first championships in the new age group. Alexander Giles (Blackheath & Bromley, Alex Pope), who was sixth in the England outdoor championships, is another to watch out for. Other leading contenders include Marcus Smith (Reading), Jack Staples (Brighton & Hove, Julia Machin), and Cooper Seiltz (Brighton & Hove).
Under 17 women’s heptathlon
On paper, Seni Purnell (Bournemouth, Andrew Fisher) pictured heads the entries with her 3374 from when she was third here last year. She was also fifth at the England Championships outdoors. Talia Junaid-Evans (Dartford), the winner of the English Schools’ junior gold last summer, is seeking another title. Fourth here last year and second at the outdoor championships, Wales’ Tiana Odugbesan is crossing the border in search of more silverware.
Seren Rowe (Brighton & Hove, Julia Machin) took silver behind Junaid-Evans at the English Schools and is another contender. Elysia Chilvers (WSEH) is among the top scorers coming into the event with her 3356 from the last indoor season. Also in the mix could be Talia Northcott (York, Richard Stanislaus), Scarlett Ashford (Sheffield & Dearne, Lee Walker) and Oluwagbemisola Majiyagbe (The Hawks).
Under 15 boys’ pentathlon
Leading the rankings is Toby Gardener (Winchester & District), who has this season scored 2513, which would have been good enough for fifth last year. Ben Phillips (Marshall Milton Keynes, Avril Tarry) and Isaac Machin (Brighton & Hove, Julia Machin), who were fifth and sixth outdoors at England level last year, are others in contention. After his 2457 last indoor season, Bradley Stone (Hillingdon) lines up following PBs this year in the high jump and triple jump.
Under 15 girls’ pentathlon
Following her third place at the England championships outdoors last year, Wales’ Sophie Piddington has tallied 2833 this season and will be a force to be reckoned with. Mia Gligorovski (Winchester, Andrew Fisher) and Shindra Ayo-Adeyemo (Chelmsford) have also scored over 2500. Another in Sheffield will be Summer Biggs (Amber Valley & Erewash, Joe McColgan), last year’s top under-13 with 2869 from outdoors.
Para
Elliot Griffiths (Liverpool Harriers), a regular in England Championships, won the 60m and long jump here last year and is back for more. The under-17 T20-classified athlete has an impressive 7.69m to his name in the sprint. Alfie Shallcross (Great Yarmouth & District, Liam Bolan) is a stand-out under-15 para athlete and will be competing in the 60m and long jump. Macey Hand (Wenlock Olympians, Camilla Stewart) won the long jump at this event last year and will also go in the 60m.
Masters
The Masters guest races - held over various age groups - make a return this year and also back will be M65 John Wright (Northern Masters, Richard Cordwell), who set a world indoor record for his category at 200m here. All races will be over 400m this year and it is in that event that he is European outdoor champion.
M40 Adrian Richards (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, Alan James) is the quickest of the entries overall, having clocked 48.75 two years ago and he will be involved in what could be the race of the day.
Tracey Ashworth (Rossendale Harriers), the European W50 champion, is the fastest of all the female entrants with her 59.97 from last year.
Further up the age groups, Wales’ Ian Broadhurst lines up as the UK M70 indoor record-holder with 62.61.