Dylan targets silver revenge
IT says much about Dylan Stoneman that he was left rather frustrated with his silver medal at the England Athletics Under-17 Championships at the weekend.
Such are the high standards set by the 16-year-old Team Bath runner this summer that being out-dipped on the finish line by Wales runner Tristan Tena Cumberland felt afterwards like the one that got away.
“It was such a close finish that I was a bit frustrated and it was a little bit annoying,” said Stoneman.
“I was leading into the last 400 metres but it was such a hot day and I think I was possibly a little bit dehydrated that he caught me in the last 100 metres and got me on the line.
“It definitely feels like it was one that got away.”
Nonetheless, it was Stoneman’s second championships silver of the summer on top of his second place at the English Schools’ Championships.
That success earned him his first England vest in Belfast, where he added a bronze medal at the British Schools’ Championships in a personal best time of 4mins 21.40secs, which puts him third in the 2022 UK Rankings.
Furthermore, Stoneman won gold at the Somerset County and South West Schools’ Championships so by any reckoning that adds up to a pretty impressive season for the Beechen
Cliff School student.
“I’m still really happy with winning another silver, it is a big achievement,” added Stoneman.
“It has been the best season of my life easily, it has been brilliant.”
And it is not over yet as this weekend he represents the South West at the UK School Games at Manchester’s Sportcity Stadium and the week after follows the UK Youth Development Upper Age Group Finals when he will represent Team Avon.
“All the top lads will be at Manchester including the Welsh runner who beat me last weekend,” said Stoneman.
Revenge will be sweet if, as Stoneman hopes, it comes on Saturday afternoon.
Also at Bedford, Team Bath clubmate Charlie Staddon finished a very creditable fifth in the under-17 men’s 400m hurdles.
That performance again underlines what a solid season Staddon has enjoyed having also finished fourth in the English Schools Championships in a PB of 55.97secs, which puts him sixth in the UK Rankings this year.
■ ELSEWHERE, Team Bath’s senior runners made their mark at the Cleeve 5k relays, which incorporated the Avon Championships.
The trio of Andy Mullet, Niall Urquart and Tom Hutchison won the veteran over 60s title so congratulations to them.
The athletics coverage in the Chron is sponsored by Running Bath