Sport down the years

SPORT has always been covered in the NWN down the years. We look at the unforgettable moments from 10 years ago

April 7 2011

First golden steps for Codie

NEWBURY’S Codie Burnett was celebrating on Sunday after matching the achievements of Olympic stars Kelly Sotherton and Mark Lewis-Francis and scooping an individual bronze and team gold at the Aviva Sportshall UK Final at Birmingham’s LG Centre.

The 14-year-old Team Kennet member was third in the speed bounce with a total of 84 at the flagship junior athletics development event of the year. Burnett – who attends Park House School – also took part in the four-lap race and the long jump, but failed to add to her medal haul as she finished 13th and 27th respectively.

And after writing her name into the Sportshall history books alongside the likes of Sotherton and Lewis-Francis – who tasted success in 1992 and 1998 – Burnett was more than satisfied with her day’s work.

“I equalled my personal best so I was really pleased with that,” she said. “I love the indoor events, and Sportshall is definitely my favourite.

“It’s a real shame that the first time I’ve qualified is the last year that I can enter because I’ve really enjoyed it. Now I’ll just have to concentrate on outdoors.”

The Aviva Sportshall is part of the Aviva Athletics Academy which encourages and enables children to get involved in athletics.

And Burnett’s efforts at Birmingham’s LG Arena didn’t go unnoticed with current Aviva GB and NI Team heptathlete Louise Hazel there to cheer on the former Falkland Primary pupil.

And Hazel – who claimed gold at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi – believes Burnett is well placed for a bright future in athletics after a storming start.

“It was nice to see Codie having fun, enjoying athletics and that is how it should be really,” Hazel said.

“For me being a heptathlete, it is great to see everyone getting a go at a bit of every discipline whether it be running, throwing or jumping. “Sportshall is a great insight into athletics and it gives Codie a great opportunity to give something different a go because at school you don’t always know what you are good at.

“It is like a little mini-Olympics and it is a great beginning for Codie and hopefully is just the start of her athletics journey.”

She also helped the Berkshire team to win the county’s first gold medal at the final, in which Berkshire’s under-15 girls were surprise winners, pushing Donegal and Surrey into the other placings.

And it capped a return to athletics for the Team Kennet girl, who had given up the sport 18 months ago, but was persuaded to give it another go by sprint coach Averil Hewitt.

She rejoined the club seven months ago and her training paid off in her four events on the day.

The girls were Berkshire’s only qualifiers on the day, which saw Avon, Birmingham and Cheshire claim the other team awards.

Aviva has been supporting British athletes since 1999 and paving the way for the next generation.