Three Golds, and a Silver lining
By Tom Gayle
Stoke AC’s new year junior medal
haul began at the National Junior indoor champs at Birmingham.
Dave Young’s ever consistent pole vault squad again shone as
Katie Dennison retained her title, newcomer Andrew Marsh took the
U15 boys equivalent and Steven Lewis placed second in a
enthralling U20 men’s contest. Biggest surprise was Nick Gayle
who made his first major impact on the National Stage by
comfortably taking the U20 men’s 60m hurdles.
Dennison who holds the UK U20
indoor and outdoor records was probably one of the hottest
favourites of the weekend. The event went to the form guide as the
World Junior finalist was untroubled in defending her crown as she
comfortably won with a vault of 3.70.
Young Andrew Marsh became the 3rd
Stoke AC athlete to win the U15 boys title in the past three
years, (Steven Lewis in 1999 and Nathan Lawton in 2000) with a new
personal best of 3.00. Marsh who was the leading U13 in the pole
vault and Javelin last summer victory was even more commendable
considering he will be given the chance to defend his crown as he
still has another year in this age group
Steven Lewis continued his rivalry
with his main advisory from his 2002 U17 campaign Keith Highman
(Border Harriers). The two met three times during last year’s
outdoor campaign with Lewis taking the English Schools and Schools
International crowns, while Highman took the National AAA title.
The two entered the Junior ranks in
the same fashion as they left the U17’s, at the top of the pile.
Unfortunately for Lewis, Highman was able to level the scores but
only after a enthralling contest were both had to reproduce their
best vaults, Highman's 4.90 to Lewis’s 4.80.
For Gayle his first national title,
and indeed medal, was won in an emphatic manner. After posting the
fastest time in the heats the Graham Knight coached athlete
finally made the breakthrough he has been threatening. In the
final he was a class above the rest as he easily powered away from
the opposition in the final with his nearest challenger Richard
Henry (Kingston Upon Hull) 0.12 adrift.
Stoke AC Results
U20 Men
60m hurdles
Heat 1
1. Nick Gayle 8.48
Final
1. Gayle 8.35
Pole Vault
2. Steven Lewis 4.80
U20 Women
Pole Vault
1. Katie Dennison 3.70
U17 Men
60m
Heat 7
4. Andrew Waller 7.42
Semi Final 2
7. Waller 7.45
200m
Heat 1
5. Waller 23.97
Pole Vault
5. Alex Williams 3.50
U15 boys
Pole Vault
1. Andrew Marsh 3.00
