Alice Bennett, Kettering’s star 800m athlete has been selected to represent England for this year’s U20 Home Countries international on 17th August at the Thames Valley Athletic Centre. The competition will see the brightest young talents from the Home Countries compete in a fast paced new competition format. Bennett was selected following her brilliant display in winning the England Athletics U20 800m Championship on 19th July and is just reward for all her hard work this season.
Alice Bennett winning the England Athletics National U20 800m Championships
This will be Alice’s second England International, in 2023 she was selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games In Trinidad & Tobago, where she successfully made the final, finishing in 6th place.
England are hosts of this years International, and will field two strong teams, with Alice competing in the 800m in the Woman’s Team 1. Alice is in great form, running a New 800m PB of 2:06.94 (UK 5th) when winning the U20 Championships, following up with a near 3 second lifetime best in the 1500m (4:30.94) a few days later to storm to UK top 30 in her less favoured event.
Alice was super excited to be selected to represent her Country and she will be hoping to run another PB to cap a fine season in what is likely to be her last track race of the season.
Alice Bennett Excited to be representing England in the Home Countries U20 International
Coach Shane Smith was delighted with her season which has seen a number of challenges, “Alice has worked incredibly hard over the winter and into the track season despite prioritising her ‘A’ levels and experiencing a long term niggle. She has remained positive and her second England vest is a magnificent achievement, I’m very proud”.
Alice is currently taking a short break in France and managed to get the hottest ticket in town to watch the Olympic 800m final which saw GB’s Keely Hodkinson win a famous Gold medal, sadly her room mate from the Commonwealth Youth Games, GB teenage sensation Phoebe Gill, was just unable to make the final in what was a fiercely competitive competition. Alice will stay in full training while in France and is keen to finish her season on a high.
Congratulations to Alice in her selection she will be proudly representing the Harriers and Kettering town.
Good Luck Alice!!