The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
National gold and silver for talented hurdlers in Sheffield
Athletics - Latest news from Peterborough & Nene Valley AC
Sprint hurdlers Joe Purbrick and Max Roe took the limelight at an action-packed weekend for Peterborough & Nene Valley AC.
Competing in the prestigious English National age group championships in Sheffield, the talented hurdling duo won gold and silver.
After winning his heat and semi-final setting new personal bests (PB), Joe had the crowd on their feet in the final of the 60m hurdles. It took a photo-finish to separate the first four with the England Schools international getting the verdict.
“I’m well pleased with that,” said the Alan Sims-coached youngster. “A gold medal and a PB, what more can you ask for?” His semi-final time of 8.11 secured second place in the current national rankings, behind training partner Freddie Fraser who was unable to compete due to injury.
Joe has now set himself a high, yet highly achievable target of the Under 18 European Championships in the summer.
Training partner Max Roe set a new PB of 8.53 to qualify for the final. The 13-year-old was away from his blocks the slowest of the six finalists but a fast pick-up saw him pull back the deficit to finish a comfortable second in another PB of 8.42, a time which now ranks him number two in the UK behind Jaiden Dean of Norwich.
Fast improving Jack Wheatley had only set a qualifying mark for these championships in the 60m hurdles a few days before the closing date. But he came away with yet another PB of 9.83.
Also competing in the hurdles was under 15 Katie Marsh who finished fourth in the semi-final with a PB of 9.44. Katie Callcut lowered her PB to 9.00 in the under 17 women’s 60m hurdles.
Shot putter Elizabeth Moorhouse finished fifth in the under 20 women’s event with a putt of 11.50. High jumper Tomi Ogunyoye finished 13th with 1.86m in the under 20 men’s high jump while Grace Tidman and Francesca Fenwick were 10th and 18th respectively in the under17 women’s high jump.
Back on the track Aaron Hunt finished fourth in the under 20 men’s 1500m in 4:03.43.
Perhaps the unluckiest of the eight club members was Elizabeth Taylor who had finished second in her 300m heat so had to wait to see if she would qualify for the final.
The pre-race favourite Emilia Rock had appealed against disqualification for a false start so ran alone, against the clock and her 40.74 edged out Elizabeth.
High jumper Dylan Phillips cleared 1.78 for a new PB. Sprinters Holly Aslin set a PB of 8.24 in the heat while Keira Gilman ran 8.13 to a place in the semi-final were she ran 8.23. Cody Roe ran 7.39 (PB) in his 60m heats and Bryce Tshabalala clocked 7.50 in his heat. Archie Rainbow finished fifth in 2:01.29 in his 800m heats.
Overall there were 16 youngsters from the newly merged city club competing with 12 setting PBs and all gaining valuable experience.