Northern Athletics Indoor Championships – Under 13 & Under 15
EIS Stadium, Sheffield – Sunday 1st February 2015
Sprinter Hannah Kynman was the star performer among a talented squad of Kingston upon Hull members who travelled to the Northern Athletics Indoor Championships for under 15s and under 13s held at the magnificent English Institute of Sport complex in Sheffield on Sunday.
Large entries in both the 60m & 200m meant 3 rounds were needed in both events, with races following on a regular basis throughout the 5 ½ hour programme. Hannah progressed smoothly to the 200m final, winning both her heat and semi-final, but had to battle right to the line to take gold in a tightly contested final. A new personal best time of 25.91 was a real bonus on such a busy day, a time which at this early stage of the season ranks 2nd in the UK in the under15 age group.
Minutes after her 200m success, Hannah was back in the call room for the start of her 60m campaign. Despite the earlier exertions, wins in the heat and semi final followed, but the final proved too difficult a challenge with her time of 8.15 seconds taking the silver medal behind Shildon’s Rachel Bennett who saved her energy for the short sprint alone.
Another athlete who hardly had time to catch his breath between events was Beverley-based Jack Perry who belied his inexperience to compete well in 3 events, capped by a superb performance in the under 15 boys long jump to take the bronze medal with a new personal best of 5.47m. So consistent was his series that all 6 jumps exceeded his previous best of 5.20m set last month. Semi –final places in the 60m and 200m made it an extremely successful day with a personal best time of 25.45 in the latter showing great promise for the future. With only 6 months training behind him Jack must be looking forward to the outdoor season with real confidence.
Medals continued to come Kingston’s way right to the end of the meeting with Shaun Kerry taking bronze in the under 15 boys shot with a putt of 9.75m. This represents a great start to Shaun’s under 15’s career, where he will be looking to specialise in both shot and hammer, while maintaining his involvement as a sprinter on the track. He took part in both sprints at Sheffield and despite being eliminated in the heats of both he gained the consolation of a huge personal best of 27.47 in the 200m.
Success came on the track while the shot was in progress with combined eventer Venus Morgan picking up bronze in a tight finish over 60m hurdles. Only 0.15 sec covered the medallists who again had to battle through heats and semi – finals due to the popularity of the event. Venus recorded a time of 9.58 seconds, just 0.03 seconds slower than her best set earlier in the season. Earlier in the day Venus narrowly missed qualifying for the final rounds of the long jump, her best effort of the day being 4.77m giving her 11th place.
As well as the four medallists 3 other Kingston athletes were agonisingly close to places on the podium. Rapidly improving under15 hurdler Adam Coles recorded his fastest ever time of 9.24 which took him to 8th on the UK rankings but he still found himself in 4th place in one of the classiest finals of the day, just 0.04 sec away from the bronze medal. Winner Joe Halpin of Gateshead Harriers smashed the championship record with a winning time of 8.64s, one of the best times ever recorded by an athlete of his age.
Almost as close to the medals was under 15 long jumper Libby Wheeler. Opening up with a lifetime best effort of 4.97m in the first round Libby clung on to a top 3 place until the closing stages of the event when Emily Jarad of Stockport Harrier’s & AC produced a winning effort of 5.17m, not only taking the title but moving to 2nd on the UK ranking list. The quality of the event was emphasised with Libby also moving into the UK top 10, currently lying in 8th spot.
Kingston’s other near miss was provided by 12 year old Ella Draper in the under 13’s 800m. With the field being split into 3 races and medals being decided on times Ella soon found herself out in front in her heat and gave a great display of even paced running to take over 2 seconds off her previous best, clocking 2:37.51 sec, less than a second away from a bronze medal.
Matthew Lyons matched Ella’s 5th place in the under 15 boys 800m also with a new personal best of 2:41.89. He showed his versatility with another best performance in the long jump, his best effort of 4.02m gaining 12th spot.
Ciara Andrews is showing potential as a pentathlete and took the opportunity to test herself in 3 events in Sheffield. With her strongest event, the sprint hurdles, not being catered for at under13 level in the championships her track activity was restricted to the 60m where she clocked a lifetime best of 8.96 sec in the heat before being eliminated at the semi-final stage. As a newcomer to the shot event her 6th place with a new best putt of 6.74m was very pleasing while a solid 3.92m jump earned 10th spot in the long jump to end a successful day.
Fellow under13 Alanah Thoresby reached the semi-final of the 200m in the same age group with a 31.02 sec clocking before contesting the 60m and long jump.
New to the under 15 ranks David Morgan-Harrison recorded a season’s best in the 60m while another under 15 sprinter, Kyle Foster, made his competitive debut over 200m and showed promise for the future.
Continuing the sprinting success story were under 15s Olivia Morton and Natasha Rawling. While neither progressed beyond the heats both recorded lifetime bests over 60m and 200m – Olivia with 9.08 sec and 30.77 sec while Natasha recorded 9.31 & 30.29.
Under13 girls Holly Adams and Sophie Reed also made their competitive debuts in the 60m, shot and long jump and enjoyed the experience of being involved in a major championship so early in their athletics careers while under 15 sprinters.
For a number of the athletes further trips to Sheffield will follow before the indoor season comes to an end next month. Hannah Kynman, Venus Morgan and Adam Coles have already achieved entry standards for the England Athletics National Championships where they will compete with the best athletes from all parts of the UK while Venus will also be competing in the combined events championship.
Most of the younger athletes will also return to take part in the Tom Pink Relays, an extremely enjoyable and well supported event which should provide a fitting climax to the winter activities.
