Preview: England Athletics U17, U15 and Junior Para Champs - powered by Citroën

The England Athletics U17, U15 and Junior Para Championships: powered by Citroën will take place at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, from Friday 8 August to Sunday 10 August.

After the seniors, under-23s and under-20s impressed in Birmingham two weeks ago, it is now the turn of the country’s top under-17s and under-15s to shine. Titles are also on offer in selected under-20 para events.

Recent UK age best-setters Izzy Rae, Lucia Bertacchini, Anabelle Fasuba, Isla Perry and Oliver Downs are among the entries, while world age-14 best-holder Divine Iheme is another big name to watch out for.

Under 17 women

Despite being in the first year in the age group, sprint-hurdler Izzy Rae (Nathan Standing, Bracknell AC) has run a UK age best of 10.94. However, the English Schools' champion may not have things all her own way, given the presence of Scotland’s Holly Whittaker, who has clocked 10.96 and beat Rae at the England Athletics Indoor Championships. Also having set a UK age best this year is 300m hurdler Lucia Bertacchini (Andrew Fisher, Winchester), doing so at the English Schools'. Her 41.13 makes her more than two seconds quicker than the rest of the field. Holly Ryan (Ty Holden, Shaftesbury Barnet) and Wales’ Darcey Coslett are closely matched in the 300m. Ryan won the English Schools title in 38.02 to rank fifth all-time, while Coslett ran a hand-timed 38.1 earlier this summer.

In the triple jump, Leila Newth (David Johnson, Ealing Southall & Middx) has gone within 19cm of the UK age-group best this season with her 12.69m. Having won both long and triple jump titles at England under-15 level last year, she is due to line up in both again. Having climbed into the top 20 on her age-group all-time list with 3.81m, pole vaulter Ava Hayes (Richard Pilling, Lewes) looks to add to her England indoor title.

Emila Adese (Blackheath & Bromley), who is sixth on the shot all-time list with 15.70m, is hoping to add to her English Schools' title, having improved more than two metres on her best this season.
Also impressing this year is javelin thrower Lucy Bull (Tony Jackson, Swindon), who has thrown 49.98m.

Olivia Forrest (Paul Forrest, Brentwood Beagles) went to 10th on the UK all-time 3000m list when she clocked 9:21.66 to take European U18 bronze last year and she is back to try to defend her England title.

Molly Mills (Jessica Taylor-Jemmett, Sale Harriers Manchester) heads the heptathlon entries after her score of 5460 in June left her behind only Morgan Lake on the British all-time under-17 list. She will be challenged by Jasmine Nkoso (Anthony Mayhew, Herne Hill), the under-15 combined events champion indoors and outdoors in 2024.

Under 15 girls

In the 100m, Anabelle Fasuba (Neal Edwards, City of Plymouth) and Honor Oteng (TJ Ossai, BFT Track Academy) will renew their close rivalry from the England Indoor 60m last winter. Fasuba, who is ranked fifth on the UK all-time list for her age group with 11.79, won on that occasion. However, Oteng, who has clocked 11.81, should push her. Araya Williams (Michael Plummer, BRAT), who has a best of 11.96, is another strong contender. All three are also in the 200m, at which Fasuba equalled Katharine Merry’s UK age best of 23.72 to win the English Schools title last month. Also setting a UK age best there was Isla Perry (Steve Carr, South Devon), who heads the entries for the 300m after her 38.61 clocking.

After moving to fifth on the British all-time list with a big PB of 14.08m to win at the English Schools', Adanna Udechuku (Emeka Udechuku, Colchester & Tendring) heads the shot put roster. In the javelin, first-year under-15 Mila Desborough (Bronwin Carter, Wimborne) looks to build on her 45.97m from last month which took her to seventh on the all-time list. Top of the high jump entries is Alessia Scala (John Bancroft, Blackheath & Bromley), who is among the top 10 all-time in her age group with 1.76m.

In the 75m hurdles, Matilda Murray (Paul Austridge, Blackheath & Bromley), who is inside the all-time top 10 for her age group, leads four athletes who have run 11.00 or quicker. Although ranking fourth on the UK all-time list at 1500m, Kara Gorman (Shireen Higgins, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) has opted for the 3000m, where she clearly leads the entries with her time of 9:34.88.

Under-17 men

Divine Iheme (Nkiruka Iheme, Radley) is looking to defend his title in both sprints. Last year, he ran a world age-14 best of 10.30 in the 100m, while his 21.29 for 200m this year puts him well clear of the rest of the field.

Tito Odunaike (David Johnson, Marshall Milton Keynes) went to third on the all-time list with 15.65m when winning the English Schools' triple jump title. He is back at the same venue in search of another gold. In the discus, Moyo Stumpenhusen (Gary Herrington, Rugby & Northampton) fell just 60cm short of the UK age best earlier this season with 62.36m and is a good bet to win his first England gold. By contrast, Lawson Capes (Lewis Capes, Peterborough & Nene Valley) chases his sixth England shot title in four seasons. He threw 18.59m to win the equivalent indoors this year and rank 11th all-time and has so far thrown 18.53m this summer.

Oliver Downs (Alex Pope, Invicta East Kent) set a UK octathlon age best this season and is trying to step up from his silver of last year as he goes in the decathlon.

In the 400m, Rowan Whittaker (Paul Daynes, City of York) returns to the scene of his English Schools' win from last month when he climbed to seventh on the UK all-time under-17 list with 47.24. Charlie Chambers (Mike Chambers, Southampton) and Magnus Riddell (Peter Venus, Tynedale) are the ones to watch out for in the 800m, both sitting in the top 20 all-time. Chambers is also quickest of the 1500m entries.

Elliott Griffiths (Mike Holmes, Liverpool Harriers) leads the way in the para 100m and the long jump.
Toby Richardson (Mickey Bushell, Yate & District), a TCS Mini London Marathon winner this year and a Welsh senior champion, competes in both the 800m and 200m wheelchair events.

Under-15 boys

Piers Spencer-Sims (Blackheath & Bromley), who has improved to 10.82 and third on the all-time list in his age group, goes in both the 100m and 200m. Grindan Abrahams (Pat Logan, Momentum Track) is his leading rival in both events.

Hugo Bucher (Carolyn Franks, Cheltenham) is a big favourite in the javelin after his 69.89m to win the English Schools, which took him to second on the all-time list for his age group.

Another to watch out for is Kendrick Onolememen (John Hillier, Cambridge H), who is 15th all-time in the discus with 50.14m. Byron Roberts (Christopher Voice, Eastbourne), who is fourth all-time in the 3000m with 8:45.34, heads that event.

Under-20

A small contingent of under-20s will line up in the para events. Elizabeth Dodds (Shrewsbury), who won the 100m at the England Championships indoors, will contest that event as well as the 200m and long jump.