ENGLISH SCHOOLS Track & Field FINALS
ENGLISH SCHOOLS T&F FINALS
What didn't the Devon Schools Team achieve in the English Schools Track and Field Finals in Birmingham?- heats, finals, intense heat, highs, lows, medals and a championship record - goodness, where to start.....
It has to be the championship record. DARCIE BENSON and JACK THORNHILL ran 1st and 3rd legs of the 4 x 100 Junior mixed relay team, with a new record of 46.11 coming in the heats on day 1 of the champs. Bouyant from this triumph the team remainded the same for the final on day 2, with the team setting a further record of 45.98. See video, it's impressive!
Not quite a championship record, but a superb individual victory went to JOSHUA TAYLOR in the SB 110mH. What a way to exit his Schools athletics career, improving on his bronze from last year. Josh was 2nd in the heat, with old rival Toby Wright from Taunton getting that win, but the final was a completely different race. By virtue of a superb start, Josh led from the gun. By hurdle 4 Toby was on Josh's shoulder, but Josh pulled away as Toby felt the pressure and lost rhythm. See video. Josh leaves us in a few weeks to study and pursue his athletics career further in America, we truly wish him all the best.
There were other notable performances:
Rory Barclay-Watt - IB 3000m 4th with new lifetime best, just over a second separating 2nd, 3rd & 4th
Olivia Steer - IG 1500m 5th
Flora Bennett - IG discus 7th
Sophia Ingham - IG long jump 11th
Ellie Birchell (Dorset Schools) - JG 1500m 13th
Penelope Boyle IG 3000m 16th
Harrison McConnell- JB 80mH 5th in heat
Jack Thornhill - JB 100m 5th in heat
Aaron Smith - SB 100m 5th in heat
Darcie Benson - JG 75mH 6th in heat
Zola Taylor - IG 100m 8th in heat
George House - JB 800m 9th in heat
Oscar Purchase - IB 3000m 10th in heat