There were a number of Harriers in action at the Prestigious Mason Trophy Inter-Counties meeting, competing against 9 rival counties at Birmingham’s Alexander stadium, and there were some terrific performances, with Emily Williams winning the Junior Girls 800m outright with a superb run. Emily led from the gun taking control of the race always having enough in reserve in taking the victory in a fast time of 2:14.8 to win the Gold medal. Emily will be a certain to be selected for the English schools Northants team with her UK ranking (3rd in 800m) and her terrific performance in a highly competitive race.
Emily Williams powers her way to the JG 800m title at the Mason Trophy
Erin Healy also ran a terrific 200m, again setting an English Schools Qualification time for the second time this season in the B race finishing strongly in 2nd place (5th overall) and importantly setting the fastest Northants time of the day in reversing the defeat from a week earlier when beating her local R&N rival, and Erin must feel quietly confident in getting the nod from the Northants Schools selectors for the English Schools team at 200m?
Erin Healy a fine run in the 200m and another ES qualification time
Bottom year Dylan Bowley ran a great race narrowly outside of his PB to finish 4th in the B race 1500m, and will look to build on this experience the following season where he will need to find just 2 seconds to get the ES qualification time.
Fynn Batkin, also bottom year, also ran a terrific race to finish 4th in the Inter Boys 3k, in the unusual colours of west Midlands vest, finishing in a fine 4th place narrowly outside of his PB.
Harriet Jolley ran well in the Inter Girls 800m again setting a PB of 2:28.8, just tiring towards the end after a scintillating first lap of 66 seconds, and it's just a matter of time before she will be able to hang on at this pace over two laps with her steady improvement in her first full track season.
Tom Jawad struggled to get going in the IB 400m but ran well and will also gain much from the experience of high level competition, 7 Niamh Monaghan also ran well just outside of her PB in the IG 300m just outside of her PB.
For the athletes with qualification times (Emily Williams, Jack Hope & Erin Healy) there is an anxious wait now for the English Schools team to be confirmed, but all 3 will be hoping to get the nod.
Well Done to everyone who competed!