April has been a busy month for the Harriers Middle Distance squad, with a gradual return to training, and ramping up on training intensity, most of the squad have now opened their account for Summer track 2025, and it’s been a spectacular start by any measure. Three of the squad have set the all-important English Schools Qualifier times, with one more credibly close to running the standard, and their has been a total of 15 PB performances.
There were some outstanding performances from the Watford AC open meeting with U15 Marianna Owen, recovered and fresh from her England Cross Country International in late March, running an astonishing 11 second PB to storm to 8th in the UK ranking for her opening 1500m of the season. Owen looked incredibly strong in the race and was full of running over the final 400m, setting an impressive opening time of 4:39.70, six seconds inside the English Schools qualifying standard.
Outstanding opening race of the season for Marianna Owen, an 11 second PB and a comfortable English School qualifiing time
U17 Peyton Almond has started the 2025 track season in style, setting a second successive PB and English Schools qualifier with a superb race to finish in 4:44.58 which ranks her UK 38th, and both Almond and Owen join Clara Booth who set an English Schools Qualifer when winning a Bronze medal in the U15 National Indoor Championships in February.
A new PB for Peyton Almond with her second successive English Schools qualifying time
Watford, which has a reputation to be a fast track, also saw some incredible PB performances on the night, with U17 Iona Ellwood destroying her 2024 PB by 11 seconds with a storming run to record a time just a few seconds shy of the English Schools standard with 4:47.11 to move to a top 50 UK ranking.
Iona Ellwood with an 11 second PB in her opening race of the season, just shy of an English Schools qualifier
U15’s Amelie Heron, Millie Sharp both set good season opening times, with Heron dipping below the magical 5 minute barrier for the first time, to set a new PB of 4:59.01, with Sharp just a few seconds off her PB setting a time of 4:59.21. Elsie Bennet set a SB of 5:09.63, but will be much happier with her 800m ran 2 weeks earlier when she set a 1 second PB of 2:21.93 in her season opener.
Not to be outdone the boys also put in some brilliant performances with U15 Ben Scott making his full track debut setting a superb time of 4:31.62 to move to a UK ranking of 52, and eyes firmly fixed on finding the 10 seconds needed over the next few races to set an English Schools qualifier.
U17 George Sharp capitalising on a super block of training, followed up on his 3 second 800m PB of 2:09.86 set 2 weeks earlier by slicing an incredible 15 seconds off his 1500m time with a superb display of front running to record a new PB of 4:25.99. U20 Lucas Rogers sliced a similar amount of 13 seconds, to set a brilliant new PB and close in on the magical 4:00 barrier with a solid display of controlled front running recording a time of 4:02.60.
Lucas Rogers with a 13 second PB and closing in to the magical 4:00 barrier for the 1500m
The final two squad athletes in action were Josh Cannell, setting a SB of 4:34.48, and Matthew Almond wo ran a masters 40 PB of 4:30.04 in his first race for 15 years on track to move to 19th in the UK M40 rankings.
Elsewhere off track, U15 Joshua Spavins put in a terrific display in the TCS mini marathon. Spavins the only qualifier this year from the squad, raced the final 2.6km of the London marathon course to finish in a fine 49th position in 9:02 representing the East Region. This is the premier British road running event and fantastic experience for the 13 year old.
Joshua Spavins the sole representitive from the squad competing in the TCS mini marathon
The Corby AC open was a great opportunity for some of the new younger squad members to race and gain valuable experience, but also for our Masters members to race. Alex McMurtrie (Masters 55 category) opened his 2025 over 1500m with a terrific AG PB of 12 seconds and smash the M55 club record from 2016 by over 9 seconds with a terrific run of 5:20.7.
In the younger age groups making their debut at the distance were siblings U15 Layla-May & U13 Amelie CHYMCAKOVA who ran well over 800m to record 3:02.5 and 2:56.8 respectively. Also making her debut at the distance was U17 Esther Chapman who ran well for 3:03.1, with the final debutant U13 Cassidy Almond recording her first 800m time of 2:58.7.
U13 Callum Johnson set a good PB in the 1500m with 5:27.5, while U15 Calara Booth ran a SB opening time of 4:54.1 (UK ranking 24th), and U15 Sabina Lawton opened her season with 5:02.7.
With focus now shifting the County Championships in early may and a chance to race for medals, the squad will be looking to build on this brilliant opening to the 2025 track season.
Well done to everyone!