Scunthorpe youngsters earn their county colours

Twelve young members of Scunthorpe and District Athletics club were given the honour of representing their county. They competed for Humberside Athletics at the Northern Inter counties match, which was held at Leigh near Manchester last weekend. The match saw athletes from 10 northern counties compete at under 15 and under 17 level. The match normally features junior and senior athletes as well but due to a clash with the Senior UK championships it was left to the younger athletes to battle it out.

The athletes were treated to a return of the hot summer weather which has been missing for most of the track season. It was to be the 400m runners who benefited most from the hot and windless conditions. First to try stretching his legs was 14 year old George INMAN who like many of the other youngsters was representing his county for the first time. But it wasn’t an occasion that overwhelmed him as he knocked nearly 4 seconds off his best time to break 60 seconds for the first time when he finished 3^rd in his heat. Following on from George’s lead were Freya BRADSHAW and Steph O’CONNOR who were drawn together in the second heat of the under 17 Girls 400m. After many close races over 300m this year it was to be Freya who finished in front ,  when she recorded a time under 60 seconds for the first time which knocked over 2 seconds off her previous best. But Steph will be more than pleased with her time of 60.56 seconds in her first ever 400m , in what is her first year at the age group. She then backed up her performance with a quick clocking over 100m which saw her finish second in her heat. 

It was no surprise that Scunthorpe’s successful u17 boys squad had 5 representatives in the Humberside squad although this would have been even bigger if the event had not clashed with holidays. But it was to be a day when the boys were asked to fill in because of missing athletes; hence thrower Anthony GILLATT had his first outing of the season running on the track when he was asked to fill in  the 100m. Anthony did not disgrace himself with a time that knocked over half a second of his previous best. Like wise race walker Andrew HARMES ran in both the 100m and 400m. Elliott STONES showed his fitness by contesting both the 400m and 800m probably 2 of the most demanding events and was only just outside his best in both. Whilst Jacob HAMMOND showed his versatility competing in the High Jump as well as doing the 100m Hurdles and 800m which saw him run a new best time.

The final event of the day saw Scunthorpe boys fill all 4 legs of the rarely run  medley relay with Tom ANDREW and Andrew HARMES run the first 200m legs, before passing on to Jacob  to cover the 400m and Elliott then bringing the team home on the final 800m leg.

The athletes can all feel proud of their achievements which now give them the right to wear their county vests at Open and championship meetings         

30/07/11 Northern Inter counties – Leigh

U15 Girls

Alex LOCKETT                   SP-10^th/8.49m

Ellie STANDERLINE           LJ-14h/4.42m

U17 Girls

Freya BRADSHAW              80mH-6h/14.59     400m-3h/59.23

Steph O’CONNOR               100m-2h/13.08m   400m-4h/60.56

Elicia BONES                       Discus-6^th/27.95m  SP-12^th/7.86m

U15 Boys

George INMAN                   400m-3h/59.89

Chris ANDREWS                 LJ-12^th/4.86m

U17 Boys

Jacob HAMMOND              100mH-5h/18.59m      800m-8h/2.25.7    HJ-14^th/1.50m

Anthony GILLATT               100m-7h/13.35

Andrew HARMES               100m-7h/13.29         400m-7h/63.33

Elliott STONES                    800m-4h/2.03.14      400m-6h/56.95

Tom ANDREWS                  LJ-15^th/4.80m