THERE were some outstanding performances by local athletes in Saturday’s Hereford and Worcester County Schools’ Track and Field Championships.
The downpours at Nunnery Wood in Worcester proved no deterrent to the runners as the best athletes in their district competed not only for the chance to become county champion in their sport, but also use the opportunity to impress selectors for the forthcoming inter-counties Mason Trophy event which is being held at the prestigious Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Despite the poor conditions, which resulted in the cancellation of the sprint hurdles, high jump and pole vault events, four championships records were set.
Josh Pearson from St Augustine’s High School in Redditch ran 36.6s in the junior boys’ 300m, beating the record he had set the previous year.
Bromsgrove School’s Candy Lockett also broke her own record in the intermediate girls’ hammer with a throw of 43.10m, while Jack Hocking from Blessed Edward Oldcorne School in Worcester ran 49.9s in the intermediate boys’ 400m race to beat the long-standing record of 50.9s.
Beth Lloyd from Alvechurch Middle School threw 9.96m in the junior girls’ shot put to beat another long-standing record of 9.88m.
Not content with just one county title, a number of athletes managed to claim a number of gold medals on the day including James Andrews of Droitwich High School who won both the junior boys’ 200m and the long jump, whilst Ellie England (Bewdley High) did likewise in the same junior girls’ events.
Lockett won both the intermediate hammer and discus and Sophie Zgraja from Bromsgrove School won three titles in the senior girls’ 100m, 200m and long jump.
There was also glory for athletes representing South Worcestershire including Oliver Gould in the intermediate boys’ 200m and Joseph Hardmann in the javelin.
In the intermediate girls’ events Hannah Kenwright won the 300m and in the junior boys’ events Ollie Heeks won the shot put.
The junior girls’ 1,500m was won by Casarena Ferreira of South Worcestershire.
