News

Preview: England U17 and U15 Indoor Combined Events and England Junior Para Championships

pentathlon hurdlers at indoor champs 2023

Under 15 girls’ pentathlon

Seni Purnell (Andrew Fisher, Bournemouth), who was fifth in the English Schools' AA pentathlon last year, began this season with a score of 3126, which is enough to top the entries on PBs. Leila Newth (Ealing, Southall & Middlesex) was next behind her in those South of England Indoor Championships with 2888 points.

Wales’ Tiana Odugbesan, who was fourth in the 60m hurdles at the England Championships this winter, scored 3099 in November and will be another contender. Lily Hartman (Sarah Robinson, Basildon) and Chelsea Clark (Steve Mitchell, Chelmsford) have also started the season with scores of 2834 and 2771 respectively.

Under 17 women’s pentathlon

A close contest is expected here with Molly Mills (Jessica Taylor-Jemmett, Stockport), who won the England under 15 combined events titles indoors and outdoors last year, is seeking more silverware as she steps up in age group.

However, also on the start list is Gracie Osman (Andrew Fisher, Winchester), who beat her to the English Schools' title in September by only 15 points and was just 20 points ahead of her at the Schools' International in December, when both set their respective PBs of 3351 and 3331. Thaila-Jade Mitchell (Dennis Johnson, Bedford & County) was second in the South of England Combined Events Championships with 3523, one place ahead of Sophie Catchpole (Steve Mitchell, Chelmsford), who should be another in contention. Hannah Wilson (Rob Wison, Blyth) is looking to improve from fifth here last year when she scored 3279. Isla Pain (Marie Burnett, Cheltenham) is another of the top first-year under 17s in this event last year who is back again.

Under 15 boys’ pentathlon

Wales’ Aiden Angilletta won the 60m hurdles and the triple jump at this venue at the England under 15 Championships last month. His lifetime best of 2744 leads the rest of the field here, although that was set in a non-standard pentathlon last winter.

Samuel Tsolo (Epsom & Ewell) is another entrant, having scored 2564 at Lee Valley in November to rank second so far on the age-group rankings for the season. Also lining up is Scotland’s Murray Taylor, who last year was the best of the first-year under 15s in both indoor and outdoor pentathlon with 2283 and 2619 respectively. Tristan Lamprecht (Alexander Wort, Macclesfield) was among the best first-year under 15s last year in the octathlon at the England outdoor championships and could be a challenger here.

Under 17 men’s heptathlon

Luke Pichler (Rob Wilson, Blythe), who won the under 15 title two years ago, is back to try to improve on his fifth here last year when he scored 4337. He also won under 17 England decathlon silver last summer.

Another contender is Arthur Reilly (Trevor Fox, Sheffield & Dearne) scored 4559 with junior implements and hurdles to place 10th in the England under-20 event in January.  Edward Hughes (Steve Mitchell, Chelmsford) will line up having tallied 4250 to win at the Southern Indoor Championships in December. Also competing is Stephen Adesina (Steve Mitchell, Chelmsford), who was second to him on that occasion.

Ruben Stovell (John Lane, Hallamshire), who won bronze in the England under 17 decathlon championships last summer and silver at under 15 level here two years ago, and will be another of the favourites. Joshua Dako (Alex Pope, Blackheath & Bromley) and Oliver Downs (Alex Pope, Invicta East Kent), who won gold and silver at under 15 level here last year, return.

Under 20 para events

T20/F20 athlete Elliott Griffiths (Paul Rudkin, Liverpool Harriers) is quickest of the under 20 men’s sprinters with the 7.96 he set in winning here at the January championships and in the long jump where he has jumped 5.51m. F64 athlete Euan Murray (Graham Mattacks, Team Bath) has also been over 5.00m.

Under 15 T20 Ella Richards (Hayley Ratcliff, Torbay) is quicker than the under- 20s in her 1500m event with a PB of 4:53.85. She has also run 18:29 for 5k.

Multiple national junior para champion Skala Langton (Wreake & Soar Valley), a T20 athlete, is fastest on the women’s 400m roster.

Useful information

Athletics News Competition Para Athletics/Disability Track and Field