Track and Field
The club competed in the National finals for both the lower and upper age groups for the YDL. This was a fantastic achievement for the club to make both finals for the first time in the club’s history. The national finals were held in Manchester with the Lower Age Group coming 7th in the Saturday event and the Upper Age Group coming 3rd in the Sunday event.
YDL Upper National Final Report
Match Result: 1st Blackheath & Bromley 882.5 points, 2nd Team Avon 721.5 points, 3rd City of York AC 593.5 points, 4th Trafford AC 554.5 points, 5th Coventry & Leamington 549 points, 6th Reading 462 points
What an amazing day and what a brilliant season for our club! A third-place finish in the National Finals! From the first events of the day at 10.15am to the team relays which finished at 6pm, our athletes, parents and supporters cheered and encouraged the team.
Once again, there were some big performances on the day:
In the first track events of the day, Edan Petrie (61.29) and Nathaniel Brady (63.70) both achieved big personal bests in the U17 Men’s 400m hurdles. Frances Hogg, once again racing as an U20 athlete despite still only being an U17 won the 400m hurdles comfortably in a time of 64.08. Sonya Chechik (47.19) and Louisa Birch (50.79) also both won their 300m hurdles races.
Ben Pearson (11.27), Alfie Church (12.04) Syd Marshall (11.92) and Louis How (11.80) all smashed their previous personal bests in the 100m. Rosie Hickling (12.62) did the same in the girls 100m. Esme Pounder (12.46) achieved a PB in the 80m hurdles while Levi Cload (15.89) and Nathaniel Brady (16.03) also achieved big PB’s in the U17 100m hurdles.
In the 200m there were PB’s for Ben Pearson (22.48), Syd Marshall (24.31), Adam Pearson (24.1) and Alfie Church (24.59). In the 800m Lottie Langan won the U20 event (despite still only being a first year U17) in a season’s best time (2.13.3) and Lucas Stabler won the U17 boys A race. In the 1500m Beau Jamieson-Wannell got a PB (4:36.38) and Lottie Langan won her race. In the 3000m Lucas Stabler achieved a new PB (9:07.96) in the U17 race and Luca Mastrolonardo (8:55.49) did the same in the U20 race. In the 2000m steeplechase, Charlie Wright achieved a new PB of 6:56.72. In the U17 1500m steeplechase there were brilliant PB’s for Zach Rayner (4:55.94) and Asa Howard (5:36.91) while Amy Kennedy won her steeplechase event.
In the Hammer there were PB’s for Carmen Brooks (18.72m) and Kiri Shaw (21.55m) and in the Javelin for Kathryn Clague (throwing as an U20 athlete – 31.74m). Maya Lindridge won the U17 Women’s javelin. In the Shot Lewis Rutter threw a PB (10.34m) and in the discus Kiri Shaw threw a new PB (22.29m).
Emily Maude (5.39m)won the U20 long jump (despite only being an U17) and Louisa Birch jumped a new PB (5.06m) while in the triple jump Sonya Chechik achieved a new PB (9.21m). In the High Jump Will Reid jumped 1.80m for a new PB and Emily Maude and Grace Gannon were both first in the A and B pools.
Congratulations to all of the athletes who took part throughout the season and on the day – you have been amazing! Also, good luck to Tommy Shaw and to Ben Pearson who are both heading off to University in the next couple of weeks.
This has been a brilliant season and hopefully one which has shown our athletes what they are capable of. We hope to be back in the National Finals again next year!
YDL Lower National Final Report
Match Results –
1st Blackheath & Bromley 648 points, 2nd Rugby & Northampton 645 points, 3rd Reading AC 567 points, 4th Wirral AC 513 points, 5th Cheltenham & County Harriers 463 points, 6th Giffnock North 455 points, 7th City of York AC 445 points
Going up against the Nations best young athletes was never going to be easy. But the 47 young U13/U15’s could not have handled the situation or occasion any better. The support from Parents, coaches and team managers was brilliant all day. Regardless of their position in their event each COYAC athlete did their absolute best. The fact that this young team attending the National final for the first time in the clubs history went on to win 26 medals over the course of the day is testament to their sheer effort and determination. Not to take anything away from the fantastic team effort but i need to mention a few athletes.
Firstly William Keens grabbing a near 3 second PB with an outstanding performance in the u15 1500m in a time of 4.23.01 grabbing a silver medal for his efforts.
Sophia Horsfall-Samb for absolutely nailing the 70m Hurdles To take Gold in her race with a fantastic PB of 12.01. Then following it later in the day with a brilliant performance in the Javelin again grabbing a new PB and a silver medal.
Rowan Whittaker – In his first season in athletics had a phenomenal run in the u15 300m getting a silver medal and a new PB that moves him to 3rd in the clubs all time 300m records and places him in the top 10, u15 year 8 boys in the country.
Molly Skelton u13 winning gold in two of her events – the Shot put and Javelin
Talia Northcott u13 High Jump – a brilliant performance to get the gold and a new PB
Congratulations to every athlete that has been part of this YDL season. I hope the achievements of this team fills you all with pride and has shown you what you and the team are capable of. Good luck to those Athletes moving up to the u17 team next season.
Off Track Distance Races
Dave Lancaster was the first vet 65 in 1.32.48 in the Major Stone Half Marathon championships that took place on Sunday. Dave won the gold medal in the Yorkshire Veteran Championships that were held in conjunction with the race.
14 of our members did parkrun over the weekend. Mark Cage won at Dewsbury in 16.48 with Steve Asquith coming 3rd at Heslington in 17.31. The Robertson-Dovers came 2nd to 4th in the Conkers parkrun in Leicestershire just outside 21 minutes.