Young athletes shine in Sheffield
WADAC’s young athletes put in a series of astonishing performances to claim no less than 4 medals at the National age group (U15/U17/U20) indoor champs at Sheffield over the weekend.
WADAC performance of the meeting probably came from 14 year old Lexie Divers (coach Andy Fisher) who ran a breathtaking time of 40.31 secs to come 2nd in the U15G 300m. The time goes 6th on the UK all time indoor age group performances just ahead of a certain Amber Anning and perhaps the most surprising thing was that it wasn’t good enough to win the race with Imogen King from Preston Harriers winning the race in a time that puts her 4th on the all time UK age group indoor lists. Needless to say, Lexie’s time is a new age group club record both indoors and outdoors.
Zac Reynolds (coach Mark Upton) smashed his indoor pb running a fantastic time of 50.11 secs to take a close 2nd place in the U17M 400m. The time is a new age group indoor club record and a brilliant performance from the unfavoured lane 2. Training partner Alex Beck (coach Mark Upton) secured the clubs 3rd silver medal of the championships running a new indoor pb in coming 2nd in the U20M 400m and in doing so breaking his own indoor club record to run 47.89 secs and go 27th on the UK’s all time age group indoor 400m lists just ahead of a certain Iwan Thomas.
Arabella Wilson (coach Andy Fisher) completed the WADAC medallists, finishing 3rd in the U20W 400m with a new pb time of 55.55 secs. This breaks her own WADAC indoor club record.
Aspen Stobbart (coach Martin McBriar) was 6th in her U15G 60m heat in a time of 8.20 secs. Rohan Gray (coach Mark Upton) went 2nd on the clubs all time age group list in finishing 4th in his U20M 60m heat in a time of 7.07 secs. Chloe Poore (coach Andy Fisher) was 8th overall after just missing out on a place in the U17W 300m final but had the consolation of two new indoor pb’s after running 25.87 in her 200m heat the following day. This time good enough for 3rd place on the clubs all time age group indoor lists. Training prtner Gracie Osman (coach Andy Fisher) also ran a new indoor pb in the U17W 00m running 25.47 to go 2nd on the clubs all time indoor age group listand with the 9th quickest time of the day was very unlucky not to go through to the semi-finals. Gracie leapt to a distance of 5.56m to finish 5th in the long jump final. Isobel Jordan (coach Andy Fisher) sufferred terrible luck in falling in a racing accident in the U17W 300m and unfortunately broke her collarbone on landing in a very sad end to Izzy’s indoor season.
Lexie Trott (coach Tom Farres) was 8th in the U17W pole vault with a leap of 3.10m and Poppy Crook (coach Andy Fisher) was 10th in the U17W high jump with a leap of 1.51m.
The sprint hurdle races traditionally close the championships and this year was no different with Mia Gligorowski (coach Andy Fisher) running a new pb of 9.91 secs and Harry Ryan (coach Andy Fisher) in his very first appearance for the club reached the final of the U17M race and smashed the clubs indoor age group club record with a time of 8.47 secs in doing so. Harry was 8th in the final but will be back in the same age group next year.