Stratford AC athletes scoop three medals at English Schools Athletics Association National Track and Field Championships
TWO silver medals and a bronze were the highlights for Stratford AC athletes at the 91st English Schools Athletics Association National Track and Field Championships in Manchester.
Joel Masters and Catherine Reynolds both took the second spot on the podium in the U15 100m and senior girls' 400m respectively, while Freddie Clemons helped the senior boys' relay team to a third-placed finish.
The trio were part of an eight-strong Stratford contingent which represented Warwickshire and Gloucestershire, and found themselves among 1,700 of England’s top junior athletes representing 45 counties.
First up was Caitlin Buckley who scored a PB in the senior girls’ 100m, coming sixth in 12.52s.
Clemons had his opportunities at U17 level denied by the pandemic so was back this time as U20 – moving his distance from 80m to 110m hurdles. Undeterred he came fifth in 15.77s.
He also helped the senior boys’ relay team to a bronze medal, running the third leg.
Team captain Millie Leighton achieved a new PB of 11.36m in the senior girls’ triple jump, finishing 11th.
Joel Masters claimed a silver medal in the U15 100m in 11.42s and there was also another silver for Catherine Reynolds (56.76s, PB) in the senior girls’ 400m.
Alex Adams lined up in the boys’ 3,000m and he recorded another PB after taking seven seconds off his time to finish the race in 8:53.7 in ninth place.
Competing in the boys’ triple jump was Zach McKenzie who finished in seventh place with a jump of 13.34m.
Meanwhile, George Foxe-Rowe jumped with confidence in the senior boys’ high jump to clear 1.87m to remain in medal contention. However, he failed at 1.92m and bowed out in a creditable seventh.
Midland 5,000m Racewalk
STRATFORD AC played host to the Midland 5,000m Racewalk Championships and three of their members each secured an age group club record.
Chairman Paul Hawkins took bronze medal in the senior men’s event (36:58) and in the senior women’s race, Gemma Smith finished fifth in 38:02, with Kate Sergent taking sixth in 38:23.
Allesley 10k
BEN Kruze led the 23-strong Stratford contingent home at the Allesley 10k.
It proved to be a successful day for the club with five athletes finishing in the top ten and securing a men’s team win.
Kruze won the race in 32:46 and he was followed by Matt Burdus-Cook (3rd, 34:09), Jamie Hall (7th, 35:11), Alex Hill (8th, 35:14), Richard Liggatt (10th, 35:31), Alex Pester (21st, 37:07), Richard Dobedoe (42nd, 39:41) Max Ross (51st, 40:17), David Smyth (52nd, 40:36) and Peter Sugden (55th, 40:48).
Also running was Adrian Mason (60th, 41:03), Seth Turner (61st, 41:07), Rob Gisbourne (73rd, 42:22), John Raby (78th, 42:40), Graham Hill (96th, 43:29), Damian Wheeler (113th, 44:38), Stuart Griffiths (152nd, 47:47), Suzanne Ross (195th, 50:39), Rebecca Pridham (233rd, 53:52), Stuart Evans (254th, 54:43), Kevin Zwolinski (268th, 56:11), David Maundrell (290th, 59:09) and Nicola Reynolds (383rd, 1:18:21).