Four Kettering Town Harriers were rewarded with English Schools selection following their performances at the Mason Trophy. Bradley Fox, Daisy Gilbert, Josh Coles and Josh Cara all impressed their county selectors, to join Niamh Bailey (who had already gained her place) on the trip to Gateshead.
In all there were some excellent performances from the 12 Harriers athletes selected for the Mason trophy, which is the most prestigious competition outside of English Schools, and involving 10 Counties. The competition was held at Stoke AC in dry but again frustratingly blustery conditions, not conducive to the fast time some athletes were looking for.
In the field Daisy Gilbert secured the top finishing place for a KTH athlete, with 3rd place in the Hammer. Her throw of 27.39m was well down on the excellent 32.72m she achieved the previous week in the County Schools Champs at Corby – her second club record of the season. For good measure she also came 4th in the Shot Put with 9.10m.
Harriet Sumnall also competed in two field events, with an excellent 26m throw (a PB) good enough for 4th in the Discus, to which she added 8th in the Javelin, with 25m plus.
In the Long Jump, Bradley Fox reeled off yet another leap of over 6m to take 4th place in a higly-competitive event.
The Junior Boys 1500m was the first event on the track with Harriers involvement with Josh Cara representing Warwickshire, and Jack Hope Northants. Josh Cara who was muscled out for the first 400m, eventually got into his stride, and worked his way through the field with a strong last lap to finish in an excellent third position, and equal his PB set some weeks earlier of 4:22.1 and secure selection for Warwickshire at English Schools. Jack Hope set off quickly looking for a quick time, but found the going tough in the last 600m and tired slightly to record a respectable 4:33.5 and 12th position In the inter boys 1500m Liam Kirk ran well to finish 13th and record a respectable time of 4:31.6.
Kayli Waford running in the Inter Girls 3000m, also ran well to finish a fine 5th with 11:16.0 and score good points for Northants.
Lauren Mehmet running in a shorter distance than normal, ran well to finish 13th with 29.20.
In the Inter girls 800m the Northants pairing of Fran Ashworth & Jess Gordon ran well in the conditions, Fran competing in the A race was a little disappointed with finishing 5th with 2:23.2, but in the B race Jess Gordon ran an excellent race to finish in 2nd place with 2:22.0 and underline her recent improved form.
Edward Cherry competing in the intermediate boys 400m, ran an excellent race to finish in 2nd position with 51.70, and with a PB just 0.4 seconds from the ES qualification standard can count himself very unfortunate not to get selected.
Josh Coles was the final competitor running in only his third ever 1500m steeplechase he ran a positive race to finish in 5th position in 4;55.4. The race was not particularly fast in the opening laps but Josh showed enough potential in the race together with his PB of 4:42 to earn himself selection for English Schools.
Well done to all the athletes who competed in the Mason Trophy, who will now look to impress at the Midland Counties Championships the week after English Schools.