English Schools Track and Field Championships

Eight Chiltern Harriers athletes were selected for the Buckinghamshire Schools team at the prestigious English Schools Championships held at Manchester over the weekend.
 
There were some superb performances with Alden Collier winning the Junior Boys 1500m and Isaac Jessop-Tranter winning bronze in Junior Boys 800m. Four others came top-eight. All the Chiltern athletes taking part competed well and gave a good account of themselves.
 
Saturday 9th- Seniors
Lily Holt was the sole Chiltern Senior taking part on Saturday. After a few years of competing at the championships in high jump, this year Lily turned her attention to 100m hurdles. In a strong heat Lily ran a great PB of 14.91 to be seventh. Lily then progressed to the B final where she was fourth in 15.17.
 
Sunday 10th – Intermediates
Holly Henderson ran 800m at the last championships two years ago but this year has taken up 1500m steeplechase and went into the meeting ranked fourth. In a straight final Holly had an excellent run to be fourth in 5.14.70, just outside her recently set PB.
Chisom Nwafor also had a great competition. Chisom achieved ESAA entry standards in long jump, shot and 200m but was selected for long jump as that was her highest ranking.  In a very closely fought competition Chisom came fourth with a big PB of 5.84cm. First jumped 5.91m, second 5.89m and third 5.87m. Both Holly and Chisom are in the frame for selection for the School Games National Finals at Loughborough in September .
Maddie Hughes has had a great season, with 3000m being her best event. Maddie received a late call-up and had a super run, taking over three seconds off her PB to log 10.17.00 in a straight final to be fifteenth.
 
Saturday 11th – Juniors
Alden Collier went into the championships leading the rankings at both 800m and 1500m. Choosing 1500m Alden has built up confidence over a series of races this year. After two steady laps Alden took up the pace and took the title, after a sub 60 second last lap, in 4.12.89.
Also featuring for Bucks in 1500m were Euan and Archie Pinder. Going into the race ranked tenth and twelfth, the twins both had storming races to finish in sixth and eight respectively in times of 4.21.17 and 4.22.35.
Isaac Jessop-Tranter was inspired by the occasion and had the race of his life to knock over two seconds off his 800m PB to finish second in his heat in 2.01.16, just half a second off the winner. Heat 2 saw the winner record exactly the same time as Heat 1 but Isaac was well ahead of Heat 2’s second placer. So a well-deserved bronze medal.