Team WADAC win 5 medals at age group National Champs

With Abi taking home two of them

Team WADAC enjoyed a magnificent English national championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham over the weekend with 20 young athletes qualifying to compete and winning 5 medals.

Despite some changeable weather which brought 4 seasons in a day on Saturday, the black & gold vests were on display in run, hurdle, jump & throw in an event which was streamed live on England Athletics youtube channel.

Abi McBriar (coach Martin Mcbriar) had a championship to remember winning silver in the U15G javelin on Saturday and returning on Sunday to win bronze in her favoured discus event. Will Atkins (coach Nick Anderson) took the club’s other silver medal as he found a fine sprint finish in the U17M 3000m yesterday with the first 3 breaking well clear of the rest of the field. Training partner Ruben Price (coach Nick Anderson) was 11th in the same race.

Bronze medals were won by Erin McBriar (coach Martin McBriar) who took bronze in the very first event of the championships the U17W discus on Saturday and by Gracie Osman (coach Andy Fisher) in the U15G long jump yesterday. Gracie completing a hatrick of podiums in this event across all 3 national champs this year (National indoors, national outdoors and English schools). Gracie was also 6th in her 75M hurdles semi-final.

Beth Mballa (coach Heather Sheffield) was 5th in the same discus competition as Abi and was also 12th in the hammer where she threw a huge pb and 13th in the shot putt. Chloe Poore (coach Andy Fisher) was 5th in the U15G 300m final on Saturday and in a breakthrough season and also reached the semi-finals of the 200m yesterday. Esme Buchanan (coach Andy Fisher) was also a 5th place finisher in the U15G high jump yesterday and Esme will be back in the same age group next year. Ned Scott (coach Martin McBriar) was also 5th this time in the U15B javelin yesterday. Ned throwing yet another pb as he has also had a real breakthrough year.

Poppy Taylor (coach Nick Anderson) was 6th in the U15W 1500m final yesterday. This was a fine performance from Poppy who had only made the final as one of the best timed non automatic qualifiers. Abi Belward (coach Andy Fisher) was 6th in the U17W shot putt as was the best of the welsh athletes in the field. Jessica Howells (coach Andy Fisher) was 6th in a high quality U17W javelin competition yesterday with Jess going over 40m with her first throw.

Zac Reynolds (coach Andy Fisher) was 7th in the U15B 300m final on Saturday. Carys Jeffries (coach Andy Fisher) was 9th in the U17W Long jump final on the same day. Reuben Noott (coach Martin McBriar) was another of the club’s top ten finishers coming 10th in the U15B hammer final on Saturday. Casper Wilson (coach Nick Anderson) was also 10th in Saturdays U15B 3000m final.

Elsie Brindle (coach Mark Upton) can count herself unlucky as she just missed out on the U17W 300m final by less than a tenth of a second after finishing 3rd in her semi-final. Grace Weeks (coach Gary Bettridge) was 7th in her U17W 80mH semi-final and Lily Flute (coach Andy Fisher) was 5th in her U15G 300m semi-final and 8th in her 100m heat. Seth Noott (coach Nick Anderson) was 7th in his U15B 800m semi-final.

Lily & Charlie win England call ups

England team announced for Welsh U20 International 

The Welsh U20 International is an important event on the track & field calender providing valuable international experience for young athletes and this year England have selected both an U18 team (birth years 06 & 07) and an U20 team birth years (04 & 05).

England's teams will compete against track & field teams from the other home nations and the event will take place in Cardiff on Saturday the 26th August.

Lily Neate (coach Nick Anderson) has been selected in the England U20 team in the 3000m an event in which Lily holds the club record for a sub 10 minute clocking.

Charlie Elford-Pond (coach Eric Davison) has been selected for the England U18 team in the hammer an event in which Charlie currently ranks 34th in the world in the U18 age group.

Both young athletes already hold places in the clubs hall of fame for appearances for England U20 (5K road for Lily) and England schools (hammer for Charlie) and this will see a further paragraph added to their name in the hall of fame.

Go well to both of you in the Welsh capital a week tomorrow.