England Athletics U20/Senior Championships and Senior Para Championships - Action packed day 2
Peru provided the point of focus for Britain’s best U20 athletes all of whom were in Birmingham for day two of the England Championships. Places on the plane to represent GB at the World U20 Champs in South American next month meant competition was fierce, exciting and in no way predictable. It all meant, athletes and spectators were treated to a day of enthralling competition. Plus, of course, with gold medals and national titles on offer in the senior, U23 and para categories there was barely time to draw breath. Here’s how the action unfolded:
Senior Women
In the 100 metres, Darcey Kuypers (Linford Christie, Blackheath and Bromley) defended the title she won last year. It looked likely as her form in the heats had suggested she’d be the one to look for. But, of course, nothing is certain until the gun goes. And there was a delay in that department when the heavens opened just as the field settled into their blocks, resulting in a five-minute delay. Unflustered, Kuypers had a great start and never looked like losing the lead and she crossed the line in 11.70. “It feels really good to win it again,” she said. “When the heavens opened up, I just had to keep it focussed, but it was the same for all of us. Training has been going good, so I just need some good conditions to run fast.”
Lucy Walliker (Exeter Harriers) took the high jump with 1.74. “The conditions were perfect. I was hoping to win, but I want to go higher. Now I’m thinking about the Manchester International but because of a couple of injuries I’m undecided,” she said.
U23 Women
Photo-finish was definitely required in the 100 metres as two athletes leaned for the line. In the end it was Jennifer Eduwu (Jeffrey Lawal-Balogun, Blackheath and Bromley) who was given the nod, her 11.76 into a -2.4m/s headwind giving her the nod by 0.01sec.
“I knew it would be close, but I made sure I executed. As I got into the blocks, I said to myself be calm. As I went through each step, I knew I could do it."
Halle Ferguson (Andrew Wood, Trafford) admitted she struggled early on in the high jump but was pleased with the way she got it together at the higher heights. She emerged victorious thanks to her first-time clearance at 1.77 and was happy with the close attempts at 1.80. Perhaps one of the most unusual doubles of the weekend came in the hammer where Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading) added the U23 title to the senior one she won Friday evening. On Friday she threw beyond 69 metres, but was a little below that a day later, winning with 66.07.
“It was a good competition, but yesterday was really good (where she won with a CBP). It’s been a long year, so the 69 was really pleasing after the injuries I had early on,” she said. “I’ve wanted to make my mark in the age groups, so it’s nice to close off the U23s with this. Who knows what is next?”
Hannah Hopper (Noel Carmody, Cambridge Harriers) was a class apart in the 3km race walk. She went straight to the front from the gun and was never headed, clocking 14:57.66.
U20 Women
The 100 final was as good as the pre-event hype suggested it would be. There was a real feel of tension in the air as with two qualified for Peru, it really was a case of winner takes it all. Only first place would be guaranteed to head to South America. And that would be Mabel Akande (Denise Timmis, Lincoln Wellington) who won the English Schools last weekend. She never looked in trouble on her way to 11.69 into a strong -2.8m/s headwind and even looked like she eased off as she crossed the line.
Cleo Agyepong (John Hillier, Blackheath and Bromley) was in fine form in the shot, winning with 14.80, her third in a row. It took her a few rounds to find her rhythm but once she did, it resulted in three 14+ throws. “It started really slow,” she confirmed. “My mum was saying I just needed to push which I managed to do after the third round. If I get selected for the U20s that’s what I’m aiming for.” That’s in the longer term. She’ll be back Sunday for the senior women’s shot.
The English Schools champion from last week, Chisom Nwafor (Alan Hewson, Chiltern) effectively ended the long jump competition with her very first jump. Using the very favourable +3.2m/s tailwind, she flew out to 6.04w, a mark none of her competitors could match. The wind readings provide a perfect picture of what competitors had to contend with. Round one saw +3.2, but by the sixth jump that had dropped to just +0.8.
Senior Men
The 100 metres provided all the excitement in this age group with nothing to separate any of the field after the heats and semi-finals. As the stadium commentator said: “it was genuinely too close to call.” An England team selector called it “the race of the day,” there was that much anticipation. It was Luke Dorrell (AFD) who held his nerve the best and despite it being a close finish, there was no doubt. He won in 10.41 very close to his lifetime best of 10.35 and probably faster given there was a -1.6m/s headwind in Birmingham. Is here more to come? You bet. “I came today just to have fun. This is sweet,” he said.
In the field, Akin Coward (Carol Jackson, Shaftesbury Barnet) had a great attempt at 2.20 in the high jump after he had won with a third time clearance at 2.16.
U23 Men
Tyler Panton (Peter Griffiths, Woking) even had time to wave in the 100 metres, such was his dominance. He clocked 10.56, arm aloft fully two strides out.
Dillon Claydon (John Hillier, Loughborough Students) saved his best-ever throw for when it counted most: in the national champs and in the final round. He threw a new personal best of 16.57 in the shot to add the title to the one he took in the discus on Friday evening. “I’m very happy with that,” he said, “especially as I got a PB. I didn’t know it was that big, but I could tell it was edging on to 16 metres. I’m staying with both disciplines for the time being.”
U20 Men
A stunning heat saw Teddy Wilson (Shaftesbury Barnet) fly to a 10.35 U20 Champs qualifying mark. He wasn’t much slower in a rain-sodden semi, so expectation was high for the final. He was more than up for the job, powering to 10.37 into a -2.4 m/s headwind, fully 0.35sec in front of second place. Magnificent running in the far from ideal conditions.
The 800 featured two athletes, who like Wilson, were qualified for Peru, which meant the gold medal had even more significance with only the winner guaranteed a slot. A fairly sedate 58.1 opening lap did little to decide things, but a second lap of 52.1 by Henry Jonas (Tim Ash, City of Norwich) definitely did. Jonas won in 1:50.20 thanks to a great final 200 metres. “It’s amazing to get selected. That’s been my goal all season,” he said.
Much earlier, the discus throwers kicked the day off in what proved to be a really tight-fought competition. After the fourth round barely 90cm covered the first five meaning it was all to play for going into the final two rounds. And it was Debare Alade (John Hillier, Dartford Harriers) who rose to the challenge and threw 51.05 to move from fifth to first in round five. “After the first round I said: ‘don’t worry’ and see what happens. My priority was to stay calm, trust the process and my training and let it fly,” he said.
Also in great form in the throws was Isaac Delaney (Preston Harriers) who won the shot with a fourth-round putt of 17.87. “It went alright; a decent series and nothing particular spectacular but way better than my last few competitions. The big throw wasn’t quite there, but it’ll come through eventually. I’m just not sure when,” he said.
A week ago Sammy Lok (Carol Jackson, Corby) won the English Schools long jump gold medal at this venue, so perhaps it was no surprise he added the England title to his ever-growing collection of superb performances (he was third last year). Lok jumped 7.41, just shy of his best of 7.45 but superb jumping given the tricky wind conditions the competitors faced. No official readings were available in the long jump but given the sprinters faced gusting headwinds of up to -4m/s, it’s safe to say it was a testing morning. “But all my jumps were consistent so I’m happy with the way it went,” Lok said, praising his coaches for his improvement. “Last year I focussed on multi events but now I’m concentrating on jumps and it’s paying off,” he added.
Para Champs
World No.3 Fabio Zamparelli (Greg Beard, Cornwall, F20) was in great form in the shot put, winning the gold medal with his final round throw of 13.70.
Frame running champion Rafi Solaiman (Philip Fleetwood, Charnwood, T72) was pleased with his 17.77 in the 100 metres. “It was really good apart from the wind. I thought everyone did really well, so I’m really happy,” he said.
One of the most impressive runs of the action-packed programme came from Faye Olszowka (Coral, Nourrice, Bexley, T20) who won the 400 in 63.09. “It was hard, but it’s amazing I’ve done it,” she said. Mind you, Columba Blango (Chris Zah, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, T20) could rightly argue he was as good as he cruised through his heat in a mightily impressive 50.41.
“We’ve got a fully integrated programme that creates an environment that will help athletes perform at their best. It’s really pleasing to see how the programme is growing. Selections for the Paralympics are next week which is why the competition has been so good. We’re really gaining momentum,” said Matt Kendrick, National Para Athletics Manager.