At the weekend the top school age athletes from around the country contested the English Schools Athletics Championships at the Alexandra Stadium, where the previous weekend, the British trials for the team to compete at the World Athletics Championships were held. The English Schools Athletics Championships is the 4th largest athletics event in the world and past winners read like a “who’s who” of household names from the world of athletics. M&M had 13 athletes chosen for the championships, a record year for the club which reflects the great progress made over the past 2 seasons. The great news is that there was a medal won in each of the 3 age groups and some excellent support performances to celebrate a really successful championships for the club.
In the junior age group, David Adeleye finished 8th in the final of the boys 100m in 11.60, after running a 11.35 heat and 11.30 semi final. In the girls discus there were 2 M&M athletes competing. Elsie Christopher-Soares won a silver medal with a throw of 32.11m and Zara Obamakinwa finished 11th with a throw of 24.80m.
In the intermediate age group, on his way back from injury, Joshua Oshunrinde ran 11.24 in his heat of the 100m and despite a mid-race injury, Isaac Milham still ran 58.83 in his heat of the 400m hurdles. Jack Royden finished in the worst possible position of 4th in the shot putt, just missing the bronze medal by a few centimetres, with a putt of 13.86m. In the girls events, Elle Wastell was the only track athlete chosen, finishing 5th in her heat of the 300m hurdles, just missing her pb with a time of 45.64. Jade Oni long jumped 5.27m in qualifying and Mayong Tabe just missed a medal with her second best jump ever of 5.74m, finishing 4th. The medal in this age group came courtesy of a nail biting finale in the high jump where Ashleigh West secured a bronze medal after 3 athletes all cleared 1.71m. Mayong has now been chosen to represent the South East at the UK School Games later in the year.
In the senior age group, Joe Thurgood looked set for a qualifying run only to hit hurdle 7 and find his progress slowed, finishing in a time of 16.71. Imogen Munday, who only took the decision to compete a week before the event, re-injured herself in the 400m hurdles meaning that she had to withdraw. Sonny Nash just missed a medal with a throw of 57.16m. The medal in this age group was won by Ellie Turner in the girls 200m. After finishing top qualifier with a personal best time of 24.43 seconds, Ellie went faster in the final and held on for a silver medal. Her time of 24.32 seconds is a new M&M club record and she has been invited to compete in the forthcoming Gateshead City Games”.
Some of the M&M squad at the championships.
