Before I start on the main report it has to be said that the club would not
get a team to the finals without the organisation and drive from the team
managers, George Cooper and Dave Taylor, with massive assistance from
Iris Cooper and Carol Waller, and in particular the tireless support on the
day from older athletes Rob Cook and Dave Prentice. A big thank you also to
the parents, grand parents and guardians who do amazing things to get a
bunch of teenagers to the start line... and last but not least
congratulations to the club's coaches who once again have proved through
their athletes that they are amongst the very best in the country!
There are a couple of stand-out performances worth a special mention. In
the U15 girls age-group
Jazmin Sawyers set a Meeting Best Performance in the High Jump of 1.68m, 7cm
higher than the previous best. In the U15 boys Tom Guy at last showed this
year why he is one of the most talented middle distance athletes we have
seen for some time, with a brilliant double in the 400m and 800m and a great
leg to lead the 4x400m team to victory. I have picked up many other
excellent performances in the report below, but it has to be said that
anyone who competes for City of Stoke at the National Young Athletes Final
is already an outstanding competitor, and next year it may be your turn to
make the headlines!
In terms of both commitment and performance U17 Mark Cooper also deserves a
few extra words, because of his enthusiasm at late notice, to compete a number of events
(with great performances) when others were injured. This
means a lot to a Team Manager, and George Cooper was very pleased to make
Mark the boy's team captain for the day.
Working down through the age-groups, in
the U17men at 800m, there was an excellent win for Danny Organisciak as he
came back brilliantly from an up and down season with a strong finish in the
B race, and although Rob Wilson just missed out on a medal in the 800m A
event he did pick up a good bronze in the 400m later on.
At 3000m there was a silver, and great new PB for Mike Harding as he went
sub 9.30 for the first time, showing the benefits of competing over the
senior 5k in the Parks Series through-out the summer. Mike also did the 1500m
and 4x400m relay, very much proving his endurance credentials.
In the 100m Hurdles, multi-eventer Deo Milandu took second in the A race,
whilst Pole Vaulter, Adam Cooper, stepped in at late notice with 4th in B.
In the 1500m Steeplechase there was a brilliant Bronze for Ryan Salisbury
who managed to slip off a barrier an eye wateringly once only this time. Joe
Broome also ran really well considering he had already contested the 3000m.
In the field events there was another superb win for Rob Dean in the Hammer
with Najee fox providing strong support with second in the B event. In
the Discus Najee showed his forte with an excellent win, with Mark Williams
second in the B event, and in the Shot it was Mark's turn to take an A event
medal with bronze, with silver for Najee in the B.
The Javelin saw an excellent throw from Aqeel Karim for a bronze with great
support again from Rob Dean who also took third in the B event. Mark Cooper
vaulted well to win the Pole Vault, with Deo Milandu second in the B event.
In the High Jump Deo took third in the A competition on a very busy afternoon for this
really talented all-rounder, and for Mark Cooper, again stepping in at very late
notice, there was a well taken bronze.
The jumps saw the improving Rio Bailey in fine form with second in both the
long jump and triple jump. Josh Barard competed very bravely despite injury
and should not be disappointed with fourth in the long jump in the
circumstances.
To say the U17 women were thin on the ground is perhaps an over-estimate of
the numbers, but certainly not a reflection of the quality of those who did
compete. Multi-eventers Natasha Stevens and Charlotte James are nearly a
team by themselves! Natasha won the 300m hurdles and took a bronze in the
80m Hurdles, and Charlotte won the 300m Hurdles B and finished 4th in the
80m Hurdles B. Both then also competed in the Long Jump and to cap things
off Charlotte won the Javelin event.
In my view though Chloe Green also deserves a special award for commitment
when as the club’s sole U17 middle distance competitor, but perhaps not in
the best of form, she still tried her very, very hardest for the club when
most others would have given up and gone home...
In the U15 Boys there was the previously
mentioned superb 400/800m double for Tom
Guy, but Kieren Lee is also one to watch with a an excellent third in the
400m B race. Tom's 800m time time was a massive PB and the 4th fastest in
the UK for an U15 this year, and he looked very comfortable throughout the
race. In the 800m B race, Jamie Krzowski ran strongly off the bend for an
excellent second.
Alex Brecker has never been the quietest of athletes in George Cooper's
squad, but now he really has something to shout about; 2nd in the 1500m A
race in a PB by some 17 seconds! David Sheldon might have been surprised to
see Alex go past down the finishing straight but still ran absolutely
superbly for a massive PB of his own, and the B race gold.
At 80m Hurdles, James Taylor ran strongly in 4th but he has found the step
up to U15 level hard. However, such is his talent that with a good winter he
could be close to the top of the rankings next year. Sprinter Tom Towe has
improved all season and his reward was a gold in the B race.
In the Long Jump Kieren Lee picked up his second bronze of the afternoon in
the Long Jump, whilst in the high jump new-comer Rob Moss looks a great bet
for next year with third in the A event, and Brad Bateson set a big PB to
win the B competition.
In the throws Callum Alcock finished second in the A Shot, and Chris Hancock
first in the B so the club’s production line of great throwers shows
little signs of slowing down. In the Discus the finishing positions were
reversed with Chris coming out on top to take bronze in the A event. In the
Hammer, Jake Corbishley and Jake Downward continued coach Clive Howell’s
outstanding success rate in this event as they won both the A and B events
to match the gold won by their under 17 squad mate Rob Dean.
In the Pole Vault, Adam Cooper and Brad Sentence jumped to form, and with
Adam finishing 4th on count-back as A man, Brad took the gold in the B event
in his first season at the event.
One of the final events of the afternoon saw Alex Brecker, Jamie Krzowski,
Kieren Lee and Tom Guy cap a brilliant afternoon for the club U15 boys age
group. Brilliant runs by Alex, Jamie and Kieren kept the club in contention,
albeit 20 metres adrift of the leaders. 20 metres, no problem for Tom Guy in
top form as he stormed home for a third gold of the afternoon!
In the U15 girls the
numbers look better in this age-group ,and let us hope that they continue
through to U17 level next year. Katie Gardner and Jaydene Thompson sprinted
well in the 200m as they took bronze and silver respectively.
In the 800m Lucie
Farrell showed improved form for an excellent bronze in the B race, and
Grace Mahoney was brave to run at all after more than 6 weeks off with injury. At
1500m Lucy Hayes was also suffering from illness, but pulled through to
complete her event.
In the 75m Hurdles multi-eventers Jazmin Sawyers and Katie Gardner, (with
bronze in the B) met particularly tough competition on this occasion.
However in the high jump as previously mentioned Jazmin yet again excelled
as she soared over a new meeting record of 1.68m, 7cm higher than the
previous record. Mia Skingsley also jumped well for a well earned silver in
the B event.
It is always difficult to predict results in the U13 age group because most
athletes have just started on their careers, and tend to have more ups and
downs as a result.
The young sprinters always have a particularly difficult task against more
mature competitors but all acquitted themselves well in their first season
at the event. In the middle distances it was great to see Greg Smalley
almost back in the medals over 800m after a difficult year just growing (and
learning the Pole Vault!), and as for the talented Lindon Evans, a
consistent winter’s training and we will see a much more consistent
athlete who runs to his undoubted ability every time out.
In the 1500m Macauley Snutch has, like Lindon, another year to go at U13
level, and we can expect fireworks next year! Not far behind, the fast
improving Korey Hallett-Blanch picked up an excellent gold in the 1500m B
race. Jumper, Ryan Sproston is another with at least a year more to go at
U13 level who will pick himself up from today's efforts, and I would not be
surprised if he was a winner at a number of events next year.
At U13 girls level a whole bunch of newcomers found the going tough in their
first season at this level, but at least we filled every event! Pick of the
bunch were Lucy Holt in the 1200m as she ran a really clever race to finish
an excellent second, and Megan Machin and Harriet Nichols who won bronze in
the A and silver in the B respectively in the high jump with PB
performances.
Overall
this was another good team result from the Stoke AC youngsters and if the
girls look a little weaker in numbers than previous years, it has to be said
that these things go in cycles. A few years ago the boys had similar
difficulties in the U17 age group and have come back strong, and I am sure
we will do better overall again next year as some of the youngsters continue
to improve with the excellent coaching available at the club.
John Danahay
Team scores:
|
1 |
Enfield & Haringey |
800.0 |
|
2 |
Rugby & Northampton AC |
783.5 |
|
3 |
Shaftesbury Barnet H |
749.5 |
|
4 |
Preston Harriers |
698.5 |
|
5 |
Gateshead H |
673.5 |
|
6 |
Giffnock North |
663.5 |
|
7 |
City of Stoke AC |
560.5 |
|
8 |
Spartans City of Derry |
406.0 |
Full
Results
Stoke AC Results:
|
