HEREFORDSHIRE athletes gave some excellent performances at the Hereford and Worcester Schools Championships.
A talented squad of junior girls' dominated the track events - Sarah Weaver (Aylestone) was a convincing winner of the 100m with 13.1 and 200m with 27.3, while over 800m Kelsi Smith (John Kyrle) just managed to outsprint Emily Tompkins (HCS). Vanessa Brann (JK) and Chloe Stanbridge (HCS) both ran personal bests of 5 min 20 sec and 5.31 respectively when finishing third and fifth in a competitive 1500m. Chloe came second in the discus with 18m 62.
In the field events Suzanne Platford (Minster) launched the javelin a mighty 28m 06, while Carla Chamberlain (Aylestone) threw a pb for silver 24m 09. Suzanne followed this with an English Schools qualifying distance of 29m 01 when winning at the Mason Trophy a week later.
Lucy Chapman (JK) began Herefordshire's run of high jump victories with a pb of 1m 49, Jess Jones (HCS) finished third with a pb of 1m 38.
Herefordshire pupils also won the senior girls' event with Polly Jones (HCS) jumping 1m 49. Chris Connop (Weobley) and James Weston (Weobley) won the junior and inter boys' age groups with leaps of 1m 61 and 1m 71 respectively.
Anna Robertson (St Mary's) and Sarah Connop (HCS) were outstanding in the inter girls' field events. Anna dominated the hammer with a throw of 30m 13 and the shot at 9m 08, while Sarah, second in the hammer, threw a pb of 23m 13 to win the discus.
Amy Ellis (HCS) was a close loser in the inter girls' 100m with 13.2 and then jumped 4m 45 (pb) for silver in the long jump.
Beccy Mainwaring (Weobley) was an impressive second in the triple jump 9m 06, while Katie Evans (Minster) and Debbie Jenkins (Haywood) were third in the javelin with 24m 25, and shot 7m 47 respectively.
Martin Welling (Bishop's) was the best of the junior Hereford sprinters, finishing second in 12.1 sec over 100m. Jake Murphy (Fairfield) just missed out on a bronze in the 200m with 25.8sec.
In the middle distance races Leominster boys S Thomas 2:21, and B Griffiths 2.23, battled it out for third and fourth slots in the 800m. Joe Money (Bishop's) ran superbly to finish third in a fast 1500m at 4.46.
In the field event James McLeod (Haywood) was an easy winner in the pole vault with 2m 50, and L Aldrich jumping an impressive 5:30 for third in the long jump, as was Matt Styles (Weobley) in the shot with 10m 99.
Lee Millichip (Tenbury) and Scott Read (Aylestone) were the most convincing track athletes in a strong inter boys' competition. Lee was third in the 100m with 11.7 and Scott third over 400m with 54.7sec.
Leominster District won the 4x100m relay in 49 sec, while Josh Day (Kingstone) dominated three field events by winning the hammer 32m 65, discus 30m 83 and shot 11m 88. Tom Bordeway (Wigmore) and Tom Corcoran (QE) performed well to match second position in the shot with 11m 40 and javelin of 41m 06 respectively. Eric Spink (Bishop's) was a comfortable victor in the pole vault with 3m 30.
Iwan Pepperall (Sixth Form) and James Fletcher (HCS) were the most outstanding seniors. Iwan's 400m hurdle victory in 56.04secs was just outside an English Schools qualifying standard. Meanwhile, James produced pbs when winning both the 400m at 52:3secs, and long jump of 6m 22.
At the Minor County Championships Hereford District won both the girls' and boys' team events.
Against strong opposition Herefordshire pupils dominated many events.
In the sprints Dave Watson (HCS) and T Baddcombe (Ten) were second with 11.8 and third 12.2 respectively in the 100m. Nick Evans (Lady Hawkins) was a close second in the 200m with 26.1secs, John Cartwright (Aylestone) ran a gutsy 400m finishing second in 59secs, while the race of the day was over 800m. Three Herefordshire lads battled it out down the finishing straight, eventually S Thomas (Leom) with a time of 2:27.3secs just managed to outsprint Simon French (Whitecross) with 2:27.7 and George Miles (JK) 2-28.1. Equally impressive was George Bee (Bishop's)with a 1500m victory in 5,02.
Herefordshire boys filled the minor slots in several field events.
A Beaumont (Leom) was second in the shot with 10m 77 as was G Brown (Leom) in the discus with 23m 17. C Probyn (Haywood) and G Lewis (JK) were third in the javelin with 25m 95 and shot 10m 27 respectively, with J Brazie (Leom) and Joss Hancock (HCS) second and third in the long jump.
The stars of the girls' track events were Vanessa Brann (JK) third in the 1500m of 5mins 30secs, and Sarah Montieth third over 200m with 28.5 sec.
In the field there was a one/two/three in shot and javelin: J Newman (Wx) with 8m 32; R Herbert (Leom) with 8m 19, and J Stone (Haywood) with 8m 16, contested a close shot competition. Likewise in the javelin, H Hancock (Bishops) threw 20m 25; A Seal (Leom) 19m 23, and K Price (St M) 18m 79.
Alisia Philo (Bishop's) was the best of the local high jumpers, finishing third with 1m 36.
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