​English Schools Track and Field Championships

There was good representation from Chiltern Harriers at the 92nd English Schools Track and Field Championships at Birmingham on Friday and Saturday. Most competed for Buckinghamshire Schools but there were also two in the Hertfordshire Schools team and one in Middlesex Schools.
Conditions were cloudy and a bit drizzly on the Friday but mild for the most part across the weekend in the recently revamped, state-of-the-art Alexander Stadium.
 
Senior Girls
Towards the end of the second day Chisom Nwafor took part in Long Jump. Chisom was recently third in the England Athletics U20 Championships where all three podium places saw great jumps but all with strong following winds. Conditions were similar in Birmingham but Chisom put in a colossal jump of 6.53m with a +3.1 m/s wind to win gold this time.
 
Senior Boys
Tom Emery wrapped up his school running career in the heat of the 1500m. Tom, running for Middlesex Schools, was ninth in heat 2 in in a good time of 4.03.33 but didn’t make the final. Tom leaves in August on a running scholarship at university in the US.
 
Inter Girls
Chiltern had several athletes in the Intermediate age groups. For the girls Frankie Baxter, despite having a light competition season, had a great run in 1500m steeplechase to be fourth in a great time of 5.14.79. Lucy Wilkinson has had a breakthrough season and had qualifying times in 800m, 1500m and 3000m. In heat 2 of 1500m in her first big championships, Lucy put in a strong time of 4.41.70 but was tenth and therefore didn’t progress to the final. Emily Ford recently acquired the 3000m qualifying time and, running for Hertfordshire Schools in the straight final here, ran 11.06.41 to be 18th.
 
Inter Boys
Euan Pinder was involved in 1500m steeplechase. Although a newcomer at the event, Euan was highly ranked going into the champs with the distinct possibility of a medal. With many qualifiers this year there had to be two races to determine the medals. Euan was in final 2 and with a strong last 100m finished second in the race and logged 4.33.15, the bronze medal winning time. Archie Pinder ran in the 1500m heats on Friday and was an automatic qualifier in 4.03.50. Leon Doran was also running 1500m, but for Hertfordshire Schools. Leon was running well in his heat but was badly baulked with 200m to go and was therefore promoted to the final as a 13th runner. In the final Leon was tenth in 4.12.25 and Archie 13th in 4.21.05. Isaac Jessop-Tranter recently ran a PB of 1.57.48 in 800m. In heat 1 Isaac ran another good race of 1.59.26 but was sixth and didn’t progress. Alex Hughes was in a straight final in 3000m and was 20th in 9.14.82.
 
Junior Boys
Taye Awuku-Chan is a first-year junior and gained great experience here to jump 1.64m in high jump to be equal 16th. Isaac Collier was also in his first big championships and ran 2.08.43 in heat 4 of the 800m to be seventh.