JOSH RETAINS HIS TITLE

Report by Matt Hammond

After the under 15 and 17’s had, had their chance earlier in the month to fly the flag for Scunthorpe and District athletics club at the Northern Championships, last weekend it was the turn of the under 20 and senior athletes. Unfortunately due to injuries and prior commitments it was a some what depleted team that made their way to Sport City in Manchester to competed under the shadow of Manchester Cities Eastland’s ground.

One of those athletes who did make the trip was Josh BONES who was returning as  defending champion after he had won the under 20’s Triple Jump last year despite only been under 17. So this time he was determined to hang onto his title. But it was to prove a testing time for Josh who has yet to hit top form this year after several niggling injuries. First saw a torrential downpour minutes before his event was due to start, second after the rain came a strong headwind and keeping to the superstition that bad luck comes in threes he broke one of his spikes at the start of the competition. Fortunately he had packed his spare spikes. Despite struggling to hit the take off board in the blustery conditions Josh went on to dominate the event and despite been slightly disappointed with his distance he won easily and retained his title. It maybe his spare spikes now become his lucky spikes, and with two more years in the age group Josh has the chance to win 4 titles!

Also competiting in the under 20’s was Sophie Croft who had the previous day set two personal bests in the 100m and 200m in near perfect conditions at the Humberside schools championships . So when she arrived at Manchester she must have been disappointed to find the weather had totally changed and was now wet and cold and even the wind was swirling from a back wind in one race to a head wind in the next. Despite this she still put in a strong showing coming third in her heat just outside her personal best, unfortunately the final saw a strong headwind, but Sophie should be proud of her  5^th place even if the time was slower than hoped. Like Josh,  Sophie is at the bottom of the age group and will have the chance to return next year to hopefully improve on her 5^th place.

Only 2 senior men were able to make the trip to Manchester and one who must be fed up of the unlucky number 13 is Gav MARSHALL who finished in the position in both the 1500m and 5,000m. Gav competed on both days of the championships and unlike Josh and Sophie  he had the chance of competing in the near perfect conditions on the Saturday and set a massive best in the 1500m. He then returned on the Sunday to brave the worst of the conditions in the 5,000m. The final competitor was Leo SMITH who was part of the Scunthorpe 4x400m relay team who set a new club record at a recent league meeting and saw him run a leg close to 50 seconds. He was to be only just outside his season best when he finished 5^th in his heat. Unfortunately this wasn’t quick enough to gain entry to the final. But hopefully a sub 50 clocking is just around the corner for Leo.