Clubs athletes perform superbly at County Schools Champs

The County schools champs form an important part of the season as young athletes look to secure their places at the English schools champs in July. These took place around the country yesterday with WADAC athletes mainly but not exclusively in action in the Hampshire schools champs in Portsmouth.
nThe Champs are slightly unusual in that the club’s athletes compete for their school districts and are therefore wearing a variety of vests but hopefully I spotted all the WADAC performances in Poertsmouth yesterday.
nIn the Senior girls age group for those in college or 6th form the club’s athletes won three titles with Lily Neate (coach Nick Anderson) winning the 1500m, Rose Chesterfield (coach Nick Anderson) winning the 3000m and Grace Colmer (coach Andy Fisher) winning the long jump. In addition, Lily's training partner, Amelia Moore (coach Nick Anderson) was 4th in the 1500m and in the field Mali Belward (coach Elias Mtshweni) was 3rd in pole vault. No men took part in the Senior boys age group.
nIn the Intermediate girls age group (U17) there were Hampshire schools titles for Grace Weeks (coach Gary Bettridge) in the sprint hurdles, Mia Judd (coach Tony Bateman) in the HJ, Amy Wall (coach Andy Fisher) in the LJ, Erin McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) in the discus and Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) won two titles by following up her victory in the 300mH with the shot putt title. In addition, Mia was 2nd in the LJ, Erin was 2nd in the hammer and Grace 8th in the 100m final. Other WADAC performances saw Alice Eyssens (coach Gary Bettridge) come 2nd in the sprint hurdles final after finishing 6th in her 100m heat, Emma Shedden (coach Gary Bettridge) was 3rd in the 300m, Zara Barker (coach Paul Cox) qualified for the 800m final although didn't take her place up in that final. Carys Jeffries (coach Andy Fisher) was 2nd in the 300m hurdles final and 3rd in the LJ, Frankie Moulds (coach Andy Fisher) was 5th in the LJ, and finally in this rich age group for the club, Casey Callear (coach Martin McBriar) was 2nd in the shot.
nFor the Intermediate boys, schools titles were won on the track by Rohan Gray (coach Mark Upton) in the 100m and Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) in the 400m. Harry Wilson (coach Nick Anderson) won the 1500m. In the field Charlie Elford-Pond (coach Eric Davison) won the hammer, Max Turner (coch Andy Fisher) won the LJ and Gus Bowden (coach Andy Fisher) won the HJ. Charlie was also 2nd in the shot and Gus was 2nd in the sprint hurdles. Elsewhere on the track, Chris Meadows-Smith (coach Andy Fisher) was 5th in his heat of the 200m, Ben Chesterfield, Tom Hicks (both coached by Nick Anderson) and Ieuan Thomas (coach Andy Fisher) were 2nd, 3rd & 8th respectively in the 800m final, Will Atkins (coach Nick Anderson) was 3rd in the 1500m. In the field, Sam Mballa (coach Heather Sheffield) was 2nd in the TJ and 5th in the discus.
nIn the youngest age group the junior girls (U15) there were titles for Elsie Brindle (coach Dave Sherry) in the 200m, Lucia Bertcchini (coach Andy Fisher) in the 300m, Rebekah Smith (coach Andy Fisher) in the sprint hurdles, Bethany Mballa (coach Heather Sheffield) in the shot and Abi McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) in the discus. Elsewhere, Poppy Taylor (coach Nick Anderson) was 2nd in the 800m final in a race where Katie Pugh (coach Paul Cox) was 7th and Cecily Wilson (coach Nick Anderson) was 8th. Kate Atkinson and Grace Baker (both coached by Nick Anderson) were 4th and 9th respectively in the 1500m and Evie Scott (coach Martin McBriar) was 7th in the shot
nIn the Junior boys age group there were no titles but Oliver Wye (coach Mark Upton) was 6th in the 300m final, Seth Noott (coach Nick Anderson) was 3rd in the 800m final, Ruben Price (coach Nick Anderson) was 3rd in the 1500m, Ned Scott (coach Martin McBriar) was 2nd in the javelin and Sam Nicholson (coach Andy Fisher) was 3rd in the same event.
nIn other counties I am hearing that Ollie Withers (coach Andy Fisher) was 3rd in the 400m in Berkshire and am awaiting results from Somerset where Oscar Webb (coach Tony Bateman) and Lois Moore (coach Andy Fisher) were competing. The performance of the day however came in Kingston where Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) won the 300m hurdles title in a new championship best performance time and in doing so broke one of the strongest club records on the book that of Anna Newton set in 2005 and also moved to the top of the european U18 rankings for the event.