Another best for Blundell in England vest
JENNA Blundell can rightfully bask in a rest from training this week as she reflects on the best indoor season of her young career. With a nice sense of the occasion, the 17-year-old Team Bath athlete marked her appearance in an England under-20s vest for the international junior match against Wales and guests in Cardiff on Sunday with yet another personal best in the 60m hurdles. For a multi-event specialist like Blundell, her progress in this individual event this year has been quite remarkable and her latest best of 8.48secs now puts her third in the UK Rankings for under-20 women. Blundell said: “That was my eighth personal best in a row and I feel like I have been on a high since January. “This indoor season has been the craziest, most satisfying and enjoyable season ever for me and I really like where I am at the moment. “I have won my first GB vest this winter, improved my national bronze medals to a silver last week and now ended the season in an England vest with another PB – and all within the space of four weeks. “It has been a great season and this has given me such confidence looking ahead to the summer.” Consider that when the indoor season started, Blundell’s best in the sprint hurdles stood at 8.88secs so to improve by 0.4secs represents a big step forward. In addition, the former Chron/running Bath performance of the month competition winner has also notched up PBS at 60m (7.93secs), high jump (1.69m), long jump (5.93m), shot (10.17m) and senior pentathlon (3,757pts). Blundell said: “I am very proud of myself that I managed to stay patient while I had all the injuries a few years ago and now it is coming good. “The hard work is paying off but now I can take a little break before starting the hard work to prepare for the summer when hopefully I will enjoy similarly good results.” For Jake Burkey, Sunday’s fixture was his debut for England so it will always be a special memory for the 19-year-old. He said: “It was brilliant. I follow lots of athletes on Instagram so it was really nice when I received my England rucksack with all the new kit in it. “The whole experience was brilliant and hopefully it is just the start. In the England team meeting before the event they told us that this competition should be seen as a springboard for the future and I certainly will be looking to get selected for bigger events in years to come.” Burkey cleared 7.05m to finish second which was the second time he has jumped over seven metres in a week – having never done it before. He said: “I was looking to consolidate with another seven metre jump and I am pleased that I managed that.” TEAM Bath runner Mark Mackintosh finished third and first veteran over 55 in the Northumberland CTS ultra marathon held over 57k. He said: “This was my first ultra and was aimed at testing the waters with regards pace, hydration, and nutrition strategies for other races later in the year. “The intention was a top 10 place if possible, and an age category win. A recommended race, and some lessons for me for future ones.” THE 2019 Wiltshire Road Race League schedule has been released and Team Bath runners will certainly be looking to make their presence felt, kicking off with the Good Friday 10 miles race on April 19. The overall prizes are based on a runner’s best eight performances: Race 1: Good Friday 10 Miler (19 April); Race 2: Corsham 10k (28 April); Race 3: The Shrewton Bustard 10k (19 May); Race 4: Broad Town 5 (15 June); Race 5: To be confirmed (end of June provisionally); Race 6: Heddington 5k Series (14 May, 11 June & 9 July); Race 7: Colerne Under the Posts 5 Miler (21 July); Race 8: Two Tunnels Relay event (5x10km) (18 August); Race 9: Chippenham Half Marathon (8 September) Race 10: Devizes 10k (29 September) Race 11: Clock Change Challenge 10k (27 October). ENTRIES are being taken for the Team Bath Field Fest which will be on April 14 at the Bath University track – no entries will be taken on the day. For further information, see the club website at: www.teambathac.org/ team-bath-ac-field-fest/. The Chronicle’s athletics coverage is sponsored by Running Bath. Bath’s premier running shop. Visit Running Bath at 18 High Street, or call 01225 462555 for more information.