Youngsters find form at relay championships
AFTER a successful Midland Road Relays last month, six Cheltenham Harriers teams returned to Birmingham for the English Championships.
The Under-13 boys team took fourth at the Midland event and impressed even more this time around finishing 10th, the highest placed Harriers team.
Oliver Wilson got them off to a good start, beating his time from the Midlands running 14:55 and passing over to Jack Pennell in 28th.
He moved steadily through the field in a near identical time of 14:54, so Patrick Paul began his leg in 20th place.
Paul ran an inspired leg, flying through the field and producing the equal fifth fastest time of the day, 13:17, meaning the team finished in 10th overall.
Under-13s Olivia Avery, Scarlett England and Evie Avery took silver at the Midland Relays and finished in 12th place.
Olivia Avery ran 30 seconds faster then two weeks ago finishing in 15:15 and 19th place. England’s 15:35 moved the team up to 15th and Evie Avery continued the momentum on the last leg with a time of 15:22.
The Under-15 boys, Sam Wilson, Harry Knight and Dom Martin, were 31st as Wilson ran 13:11 for 22nd place. Knight produced a solid run to finish in 16:13 and pass over to Martin in 60th, and he gained 29 places with a time of 12:43, ninth quickest overall.
The Under-15 girls finished 44th with Bluebell Heath-smith kicking things off with a run of 15:46 for 49th. She passed over to Jessica Sheppard who ran 16:22 to move up to 47th and Amelie Paul gained a three places with a time of 16:17.
Isobel Watt took on leg one for the Under-17 girls finishing 30th in 15:01. Isobel Burfitt ran well to finish in 18:01 and 46th place and Milly Foster moved the team up to 40th with a good time of 16:42.
The senior women, consisting of two Under-20 athletes ran well to finish in 37th place. Kiya Dee set off hard on leg one, going with the early leaders which included international level athletes for a time of 15:17 and 21st place. Ciara Thornley moved the team up a place to 21st, with 15:21. Alison Garton and Jo Wilkie brought the team home with Garton running 18:22 for 32nd and Wilkie 18:08.