The Harriers MD squad had a busy weekend with some terrific performances in the County-Schools which saw x4 of the squad crowned County Champion, and there were other outstanding performances in the Eastern Prep-school final, and the BMC Grand Prix.
County Schools was the main focus for the younger athletes and four were crowned County Champions, with Jemima Davey competing in the Somerset schools championships continuing her great form, winning a double Gold, first with the Inter-Girls 800m in 2:18.19 in a close race, Davey followed this up 40 minutes later with a clear victory in the IG 200m with a new PB of 26.83 to show her speed is in a good place.
Jemima Davey Double County Schools Champion in the 800m & 200m
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In the Northants County Schools there were three County Champions crowned, Junior Girl Peyton Almond, following on from her NAA County Double Gold for the 800m & 300m, again secured the 800m Schools title with a superbly controlled race which she led from the gun, cruising in to take the win in 2:25.1 ahead of R&N’s Jess Lamb (2:25.8) & fellow Harrier Elsie Bennett who also ran a fine race to finish in third in 2:26.0, a new outdoor PB. Almond with spearhead the JG 800m Northants team in the prestigious Mason Trophy in a weeks’ time in Stoke.
Peyton Almond (3) winner in a tight Junior Girls 800m race
JB Harlee Hooker followed up from his week old 1500m PB with a fine race to win his first Schools County-Championship. Hooker took control of the race after 1 lap and quickly opened up a comfortable gap to romp home with a 30m gap in another new PB of 4:37.7, and joins Almond in the Mason Trophy.
Harlee Hooker fine win in the Junior Boys 1500m and another new PB of 4:37.7
Inter-Boy Dylan Ransom was a comfortable winner in the 3,000m leading from the start he secured the title in style winning by over 40 seconds in 9:32.6, and Ransom will also make the trip to Stoke in what will undoubtedly be a more competitive race.
Dylan Ransom with a comfortable win in the Inter Boys 3000m
Also joining the three County Champions in the Mason trophy were two harriers who finished in 2nd place, for automatic qualification. IG Maggie Gancheva ran a fine race in the 800m to finish comfortably in 2nd place in 2:23.9 after taking the race on from the start and pushing on a respectable pace. JG Millie Sharp showed her increasing confidence in the 1500m when she took the race on from pre-race favourite Imogen Bennetts on the final lap, Sharp was just unable to hold off a late challenge from Bennetts but was rewarded with another fine PB of 4:54.3.
There were also good performances from IB Zachary Scott with a return to form with a SB of 4:36.6 to finish in third place with Oliver Smith in 4th place in 4:47.4. Also finishing in third place was JG Sabina Lawton who ran a good race to finish in 5:00.2 just 2 seconds off her PB, with Amelie Heron finishing in 5th in 5:41.2, while Iona Ellwood also run well to finish in 4th in the IG 1500m with 5:17.1.
U20 Alice Bennett is now building momentum with a superb SB performance of 2:08.03 to head to 4th in the UK rankings. Bennett who is juggling races/ training with her A level exams, ran a very positive race, her third fastest ever, at the BMC Grand Prix at Watford and she will be confident that she can push on the later part of the season and look to run some fast times, with her first sub 2:07 clocking her main aim in the coming weeks.
Alice Bennett on her way to her fastest 800m this season and UK 4th ranking with 2:08.03
The Harriers Trio of Kimbolton School based athletes all performed well in the Eastern Prep-School championships, with all securing automatic 2nd place qualifying spots for the Pre-School National Championships. Tiggy Guthrie-Brown finished 2nd in the JG 800m, with JG Clara Booth in 2nd place in the 1500m and Minor Boy Joshua Spavins 2nd in the 800m. All will represent their school at the prestigious national Championships.
Clara Booth (left) & Tiggy Guthrie-Brown both qualified for the National Prep-Schools Finals
Well done to everyone who competed over a busy weekend of athletics.