First of all, let’s start things off with a little apology, I missed Greg Asbury of the results from the Shropshire 4, surprising really as I chased him around the course, did a cool down with him and then stood chatting to him at the presentation but he completely slipped my mind. Anyway, he stormed around the course in 43rd place in a time of 24.12, putting right the wrong from the last round when the results mishap showed Darren Owen-Jones ahead of him when Greg outsprinted him at the finish. It was never in doubt this time.
The cream of the country where at Sport City in Manchester for the Muller UK Athletics Championships and the Wolves vest was on show amongst the elite competitors from the UK. Miguel Francis returned to competition after a long absence, racing in heat 8 of 9 he finished 2nd in a time of 10.24 to progress. He then recorded a wind assisted 9.96 to finish in the runners up spot again and then ran 10.15 in the final to cross the line in 7th place. Issy Cotham competed over 1500m producing a perfectly timed finish in heat 2 of 3 to come 3rd and qualify for the final in a time of 4.24.62. She lined up in the final against Laura Muir and her fast pace blew the race apart, only two weeks after Covid, Issy battled on to finish 12th in 4.29.20.
The young athletes were also in action at Stourport in the mouthful that is the UK Youth Development League Upper Midlands North East C competition. Henry Boakye finished 3rd in 12.8 in the 100m U20M A race, Sebastian Darville was 2nd in the 100m U20M ns race. Nacardo Lewis was 4th in the 100m U17M A race in a time of 13.00, Michael Deans won the B race in 12.7. Henry then ran 25.9 for 3rd place in the 200m U20M A race, Sebastian was 1st in 26.00 in the 200m U20M ns race, Michael was 2nd in 24.6 in the 200m U17M A race, Callum Bee was 2nd in 26.9 in the 200m U17M B event. Nacardo Lewis ran 58.2 to cross the line in 1st place in 58.2 in the 400m U17M A race.
Over the middle distances Noah Sandland took 3rd place in the 1500 U20M A race in 4.42.7, with Joe St Quinton taking the win in the B race. James Neilson was 2nd in 4.38.7 in the 1500m U17M A race. Beth Dyall won the 1500m U20 W A race in a time of 5.14.4, Sara Jones took the win in the B race in 5.15.2, Scarlett Williams crossed the line in 1st place in the 1500m U17W A in 5.03.0.
Back to the sprints and there was another win for the club with Charlotte Higgins taking 1st place in the 80m U17W hurdles in a time of 14.00. The men took the win in the 4×100 for U17s in 48.3.
Nacardo completed his busy afternoon with 2nd place in the U17M long jump with a leap of 5.24 and Henry jumped 4.30 in the U17M long jump.
In the throws Amelia Hancock claimed the win in the U17W shot with a throw of 6.82, and then doubled up with a win in the discus throwing 24.09 and then bagged a hat trick with a hammer win throwing 41.35. Charlotte Higgins showed her versatility in the U17W discus recording a seasons best of 12.04. Callum Bee made his javelin debut with a throw of 18.03 claiming victory in the U17M comp.
Elsewhere there were plenty of athletes in action on the roads. Abigail Wells- Day recorded a time of 43.56 in 111th place in the Stone St Michael 10k, and to tidy up some late results Abi had finished 40th in 53.35 to take the 2nd female price a week earlier in the Gnossall 10k, also at Gnossall Lee Groucutt was 98th in 1.03.06 and Rob Carrington was 100th in 1.03.18. Also, over 10k there was a PB for Nick Beach at a windy Rutland Water in the Rutland 10k finishing in 16th place in 40.37 and in the Gate Gallop 10k at Tamworth there was a win for Dan Maskew on his favoured terrain finishing in a time of 36.12. Finally, Dylan Illidge made his half marathon debut at Leamington finishing in 64th place in 1.27.44 to take the 3rd U20 place, Mark Illidge was 177th stopping the clock in 1.37.45.
Dave Norman
