Seven of our Junior Harriers were part of the Carmel college team that travelled to Hull recently for the next round of the ESAA Track & Field Cup.
As clear winners of the 1st round against other schools within the County, they now moved on to the Regional ‘A’ Finals to take on their counterparts in the North East – the prize for the winners being a place in the National Finals.
Junior Boys
Under 15 sprinter and high jumper, Benedict Davies, competed in the 100m and the High Jump. He had an excellent run in the 100m, showing his strength as he fended off the competition to take 1st place in a time of 12.6.
With the threat of rain always looming, the high jump was held indoors. Once again, Benedict dominated the competition, winning with a best of 1.53m. A grand total of 45 points over the two events, and the highest scoring Junior Boy for Carmel. Job done.
Next we had two Year 7 boys, up against older competition; Alex Boyer and Josh Scott. Alex just had the one event today, the 1500m. He ran a great race but found it tough against some of the older boys. He gave it his all, fighting against the opposition and the pouring rain, eventually finishing 6th in an excellent time of 4:59.2, adding 15 points to Carmel’s total.
Likewise, Josh had a tough 800m but showed true Harrier spirit by battling on until the finish, crossing the line in 7th place in 2:38.3, and earning the team 15 points. He added another 6 points to that with a best of 13.36m in the javelin.
Well done to all our Junior Boys, an excellent performance from all.
Junior Girls
Two of our Junior Harriers were part of the Carmel team; Olivia Bell and Lily Large.
On the track, Olivia ran a cracking 300m that couldn’t have been much closer. She finished in 3rd place, only 0.3s behind the winner, and bagging a very healthy 26 points. She added another 20 points by finishing a close 2nd in the long jump with a best of 4.32m. A very nice 46 points and the highest scoring Junior Girl for Carmel, well done Olivia!
Lily ran her usual track event, the 800m, and set off at a cracking pace, opening quite a gap between her and the following pack. At one point it looked as if she’d gone too early and the North Yorkshire athlete started closing in on Lily. But with about 90m to go she kicked and sprinted for the line to take 1st place in 2:40.3, collecting 21 points on the way. She also took part in the long jump, earning another 14 points with a best of 3.86m, finishing in 5th place. Great effort, Lily, well done!
Next, another new name to Darlington Harriers. Someone who’s been training with DHAC for a few weeks now, mainly alongside Lily Thompson with her throwing – welcome Connie Bleasby.
She put that training to good use today in the javelin, throwing an impressive 17.21m and finishing in 4th place gaining a very welcome 16 points. She doubled that by running the 300m in an excellent 50.5s. Great effort, Connie,well done!
IntervBoys
In the other English School’s competitions, Nat Bell is classed as a Junior Boy, but in the T&F Cup he’s now moved up to an Intermediate. The bad news is for this year he’s competing against older athletes so it was going to be a tough today. He’d been given the job of competing in the 300m and the long jump.
First up for Nat was the long jump; three decent jumps, his best being 5.08m. Not a PB but not a bad effort, taking 6th place and 15 points for the team. In the afternoon the Inter Boys action switched to the track, and the 300m. Nat was put into the fastest heat with everyone in Year 10 except Nat who’s still in Year 9! The odds were against him but he pushed hard from the off, he held his own around the bend then gave it all he had down the finishing straight, dipping over the line to take 1st place by a couple of metres in an excellent 38.0s. A huge 28 points in the bag; the highest scoring Inter Boy for Carmel.
Unfortunately, Carmel didn’t make it to the Finals this year, but I think it’s safe to say that all seven of our Junior Harriers made a tremendous contribution to their team.
Well done to all!