Swindon Harriers impress at English Schools' Championship

The event featured track and field events such as javelin and hammer throw and took place at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham where it featured nearly 2,000 of England’s best young athletes.

The conditions of the event were blustery which made things more difficult for the throwers.

The event saw all but two of the club’s athletes finish 10th or higher.

Sam Innes, who previously won the South-West title, finished 14th in the senior boys’ javelin, with a throw of 40.96m.

Archie Kinneir placed 10th in the inter-boys’ hammer with a throw of 38.33m.

Making his debut at the event, Jonathan Dumbutshena managed to nab an impressive 6th place in the junior boys’ 100m, with fellow runner Al Virgilio playing 7th in the junior boys’ 800m.

During her final appearance at the event, Delleah Belgrave set a personal best of 5.96m in the senior girls’ long jump, placing 5th, and Laila-Jae Belgrave set her second personal best in competitive inter 80m hurdles with a time of 12.16 seconds, just missing out on making it into the final in 7th place.

Jaiden Dix is another newcomer who came 9th in the inter-boys’ long jump in his third-ever competition.

Representing Gloucestershire, Ella Spencer finished 9th in the inter-girls 3000m. Lucy Bull finished 6th on her debut in the junior girls’ javelin with a throw of 32.58m, and Billy Dickinson sadly failed to register a mark after some technical issues and three no-throws.

Finally, Holly Scott just missed out on a podium in the junior girls’ hammer after four no-throws meant she didn’t quite make the cut.

Scott was clearly unhappy with her performance, as she says “It wasn’t my best competition. I had four no-throws which was not great. Maybe it was a little bit of nerves and I’ll speak to my coach [Alan Brown] next week.”

Scott will have further chances to prove herself soon at the England U15 Championships and UK YDL Lower Age club competitions.