Report by Tom Gayle

The clubs field eventers took centre stage as the National AAA U15 and U17 championships took place in Sheffield with the club bringing home an outstanding 5 medals.

Cream of the crop was Jade Weston in the U17 women’s shot putt, as she became National Champion in the event. Her performance was even more impressive given the high standard of opposition she faced as the start list included her English Schools conqueror Hannah Evenden (Leeds City), and Irelands Aoife Hickey who had defeated her at the Swalec schools international. This time though it was Weston’s turn to take centre stage as she demolished the daunting opposition. Her winning throw of 11.85, which is just 1cm shy of her life time best, left her nearest rival Hickey an incredible 35cm adrift.

Another to improve on their English Schools performance was Matt Rollings in the U17 men long jump. Rollings has repeatedly shown this season that he is not a flash in the pan as for third time this season that he jumped beyond 6.80 to grab a silver medal. The John Crotty coached athlete, who had only returned back from his summer holiday the week leading up the competition leapt out to 6.81 to ensure that he went one better than his English Schools bronze medal triumph as victory went to Adam Timms (Pudsey & Bramley) who found a mere 5cm more with 6.86.

The championships provided a double celebration for Jazmin Sawyers. On the first day she renewed her rivalry with Katarina Thompson (Liverpool Harriers), who Sawyers had endured a close battle with at the English Schools championships in Birmingham last month. While Sawyers could not prevent a repeat of the positions from Birmingham, she did yet again ensure that Thompson had to work hard for the title. As the rest of the opposition bowed out at 1.65, Thompson had to clear 1.72 to Sawyers 1.69 to complete an English Schools and AAA double.

The following day the duo again locked horns, this time in the long Jump, an event where both Sawyers and Thompson are again among the countries top athletes. In a competition that saw an impressive eleven girls jump over 5 metres, Sawyers leap of 5.42 collected her second medal of the weekend with a well deserved bronze. Victory again going to Thompson by a miniscule 1cm from Joanna Miles (Ballymena & Antrim) with jumps of 5.57 and 5.56 respectively.

Finally Ben Williams rounded off the clubs medal haul with his much-awaited first national medal in the triple jump. Again in another high standard event, Williams, who like Sawyers is still eligible to contest the same age group next year, produced the jump of his life to collect a bronze medal. His medal winning performance of 14.32 added a staggering 28cm to his previous life time best. Along with Rollings, Williams is part of an extremely talented young group of jumpers at the club. Another member of their training group, James Gardner, was also on show and set a new personal best of 13.26 to place sixth in the event.

Other highlights 

·     English Schools Champion and silver medallist Najee Fox and Alice Lennox this time tasted the experience of the dreaded fourth place in their respective events as a throw of 37.12 in the discuss and a leap of 5.46 in the long jump weren’t quiet good enough to medal. 

·     Tom Guy came within a few tenths of the clubs 1500m recorded when comfortably qualifying for the U15 boys 1500m final with a new personal best of 4.17.85. Unfortunately in the final while well placed going into the final lap Guy was forced to pull up with a groin problem that saw him lay in a heap on the track and was subsequently taken away by the medical staff.

·     Deo Milandu set two legal personal bests in the 100 and 200m but due to the high standard of opposition unfortunately failed to progress beyond the heats.  

City of Stoke AC Results 

U17 Men 

Long Jump
Final
2. Matt Rollings 6.81 (+1.7)


Triple Jump
Final
3. Ben Williams 14.32 (+1.0) pb
6. James Gardner 13.26 (+1.0) pb

Pole Vault
Final
=11. Mark Cooper 3.60


U15 Boys

100m
Heat 1
5. Deo Milandu 11.85 (+1.7) pb

200m
Heat 1.
6. Milandu 24.27 (+2.0) p.b

1500m
Heat 1 3.
Tom Guy 4.17.85 pb 

Final
Guy DNF

Discus
Final
4. Najee Fox 37.12


U17 Women

80m Hurdles
Heat 3
4. Alice Lennox 11.91 (+1.4) pb

300m Hurdles
Heat 1.
5. Natasha Stevens 47.92

Long Jump
Final
4. Lennox 5.46 (+1.0)

Shot Putt
Final
1. Jade Weston 11.85


U15 Girls

High Jump
Final
2. Jazmin Sawyers 1.69

Long Jump
Final
3. Sawyers 5.42

Full results can be found at http://www.englandathletics.org/events/under-17--under-15-championships/, while photos can be found at http://www.fotoccompli.com/070812u1517.html