Northern Athletics Track & Field Championships
Senior and under 20’s – Sport City, Manchester
Saturday 13th/Sunday14th June 2015
The 2015 Northern Championships were held at the Sport City complex which is situated fifty yards away from the ‘Etihad Stadium’ in Manchester. It is a very popular venue with the athletes. It boasts an indoor warm up track and call up area and the stadium is roofed and seated.
There was a good turnout of athletes from ‘Kingston’ and they were well supported by their parents and families and also friends and officials from the club. There were some truly outstanding performances from some of our young athletes, who fought their way into their event finals and competed magnificently.
The youth team stars brought back home to Costello 3 gold, one silver and one bronze medal, plus a host of PB’s and many excellent performances both on the track and on the field.
Charlotte Paterson had a fantastic start to 2015 when she was selected to represent England at the Welsh International in Cardiff, in March. She won the 60 metres race in Wales and collected a gold medal.
She had a great two days at the Northern Championships in Manchester over the last weekend 13/14th June. Saturday saw her win the 100 metres gold medal and set a new PB of 11.87s in the final. On Sunday she completed the sprint double, winning the 200 metres and taking her second gold in a time of 24.63s.
Maggie Okul arrived at Sport City on Sunday morning to make her second defence of her under 20 Hammer title, which she won in 2013 and then successfully defended last year. She made it a hat trick of victories and picked up her 5th Northern gold medal, with a throw of 50.23m.
The UK ranked No. 2 has now won two under 17 titles and further three at under 20 level, and boasts an unbeaten record at the Northern Championships.
Daniel Gray suffered cruel misfortune at the beginning of his 2015 campaign. At the Northern Indoor Championships in Sheffield he suffered a hamstring injury in the 400 metres final which cost him a certain medal.
He fared much better outdoors at Manchester, where he ran a superb final in the 400 metres and collected a thoroughly deserved silver medal. He also ran a lifetime best performance of 48.14s.
16 year old Dominic Singh is one of the clubs most promising young athletes and he competed in a higher age group, at under20 level in the 200 metres race. He successfully negotiated the heats and took his place in the blocks for the 200 metres final. Dom ran an excellent race and was in contention all the way to the line, to pick up a well earned bronze medal, and a good time of 22.39s.
Joe Cooper was battling hard with Dom for a medal place but just missed out. He finished in 4th with a time of 22.90s. Joe also reached the final of the 100 metres, where he ran a new PB of 11.10s, to take 5th place.
Harry Powell and Shaun Smith ran in the 5000 metres final and both of them set new PB’s. Harry ran 15:35.61s for a 4th place finish and Shaun finished 5th in a time of 16.24.38s.
Nicole Gray, younger sister of Dan competed in the discus final. She threw a new PB of 24.08m to claim a 4th place finish.
