11th July 2007 STAFFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS U13 & U14 TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Report by Tom Gayle Several of the clubs youngsters were in action at the Staffordshire Schools Championships that targets specifically those that are in years 7 and 8 at secondary school. In the sprints Jake Teague continued his unbeaten streak as he secured a sprint double. In the 100m the Keith Fradley coached athlete broke the 13 second barrier after being pushed all the way by his City of Stoke team mate hurdle specialist James Taylor, as they clocked new life time bests of 12.8 and 13.1 respectively. Later on both athletes were a class apart from the opposition as firstly Teague’s 200m clocking of 26.9 saw his nearest challenger over half a second adrift, while Taylor skated over the hurdle barriers to comfortably win in 12.1 seconds.  Not to be outdone by the boys over the sprint events Jasmine Sawyers scooped the U14 girls 75m hurdles title with ease, while in the U13 equivalent Jordan Kirkland was involved in a thrilling race which saw her just edge into second but knocked a huge amount of her personal best to record the same time as the winner.  Furthermore Lauren White was involved in an similar close tussle as she secured second place in the U14 girls 200m in a race where the first four athletes were separated by a mere 0.3 seconds. In the distance events Tom Guy, Sammy Jo Daley Davies and Lucyie Farrell were victorious in their respective races. Guy, who unfortunately had to withdraw from the National English Schools competition due a school trip abroad collected his second and third county schools track title’s of the year. The George Cooper coached athlete dominated the 1500m to cruise home in 4.39.3 to win by 25 seconds. Further more he showed that he is a force to be reckoned with over the shorter distances as he just got the officials nod in the 200m were the first two athletes both recorded the same time. Davies and Farrell were the stars of the show in the 800m. Davies is slowly getting back to the form that saw her set a club U13 record of 2.29.15 last year as she comfortable secured a 3 second victory. The club record may not be hers for much longer though as Lucie Farrell showed she may dip under the 2.30 barrier. Unlike Davies, Farrell was forced to work right to the line to ensure victory, stopping the clock at a new personal best of 2.31.7. Elsewhere, Kris Washington and David Sheldon took the runners up honours after close races in the 8 and 1500m, while Grace Mahoney showed her vast range of competitive ability as she established new lifetime bests in the 1500m and 100m of 5.45.2 and 14.3. Finally in the field Sawyers returned to action and warmed up for the National English Schools championships by effortless taking the high jump title with a leap of 1.60, Adam Cooper added a massive 30cm to his previous life time best when winning the U14 boys pole vault, Jade Rowe was a runner up the shot putt, and Lauren White took fifth in high standard U13 girls long jump competition. Stoke AC Results U14 Boys 200m 1. Tom Guy 25.1 800m 7. Alex Brecker 2.29.7 pb 1500m 1. Guy 4.39.3 Pole Vault 1. Adam Cooper 2.30 pb Hammer 2. Jake Curbishley 25.16 U13 Boys 100m 1. Jake Teague 12.8 pb 2. James Taylor 13.1 pb 200m 1. Teague 26.9 800m 2. Kris Washington 2.36.9 1500m 2. Dave Sheldon 5.01.5 75m Hurdles 1. Taylor 12.1 U14 Girls 200m 2. Lauren White 29.0 800m 1. Sammy Jo Daley Davis 2.37.5 75m Hurdles 1. Jazmine Sawyers 12.0 High Jump 1. Sawyers 1.60 Shot Putt 2. Jade Rowe 7.69 U13 Girls 100m 4. Grace Mahoney 14.3 800m 1. Lucie Farrell 2.31.7 pb 1500m 2. Mahoney 5.45.2 pb 70m Hurdles 2. Jordan Kirkland 12.6 pb Long Jump 5. Sadie White 4.04 Full results can be found at www.csathletics.com/results/COUNTY%20U13-14%20CHAMPS%202007.xls