A total of four KTH athletes have gained selection for the prestigious English Schools championships, three from the Middle Distance squad, Fynn Batkin, Inter Boys 3000m, Emily Williams Inter Girls 800m, & Dylan Bowley Junior Boys 800m are joined by Sprinter Erin Healy in the Inter Girls 200m. All four had to meet challenging qualification times and impress selectors at the recent county schools & Mason trophy schools championships.
KTH fantastic 4...Fynn Batkin, Emily Williams, Erin Healy & Dylan Bowley
For two athletes, Fynn Batkin & Dylan Bowley this is the first time they have been selected for the premier athletics championship in England and both were delighted to attending. Erin Healy makes her second appearance in the championships as a bottom year athlete and will be looking to build on her first appearance in 2016 in the 200m, and Emily Williams makes her third appearance as a bottom year athlete and will be looking to make the podium as she did in 2016 when she won a Silver medal in the Junior Girls 800m.
Coach to three of the Middle Distance squad selected, Shane Smith, was delighted for all three athletes “Fynn, Dylan & Emily all train together as a squad and all set the very highest standards in effort & commitment so it come as no surprise that they have been selected”. He added “English Schools Track & Field championships is a fantastic opportunity to experience high level competition which mirrors the set up for elite GB athletes in National & Global championships, and I am immensely proud of all three & wish them the best of luck”.
Sprint Coach, Ann Inniss-Haycox, was also proud to have guided Erin Healy to her second consecutive English Schools Championship “I was confident that Erin would be selected this year. She has already posted several PBs' so far this season in both the 100m & 200m. I took a gamble and selected her to compete in the Midland Senior League, and she has handled herself exceptionally well running against athletes who are a lot older than her. I'm sure she will do well in these championships now that she has a better understanding of what is required, as it can be a daunting experience the first time that you compete there".
The ESAA National Championships are the 4th largest athletics event in the World... staged each year and organised entirely by volunteer teachers, bringing together the best athletes in each County in England to compete for the honour of being the best athlete in the Country at their event. Nearly all the UK Olympic Athletics team members have featured in the ESAA Championships.
The 87th ESAA Track & Field Championships will be held at Birmingham Alexander International Stadium on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th July 2017, and is considered to be the best athletic competition for U15-U20 in the UK, so KTH is rightly proud to have four athletes selected for this premier event.