Young athletes battle for honours in Bedford
As the England Athletics Under-23 and Under-20 Championships drew to a close on Sunday (June 20) at Bedford International Stadium, a number of competitors will now hope they have done enough to earn GB selection for the European age-group championships in Tallinn next month.
First up is the European Under-23 Championships on July 8-11 followed by the European Under-20 Championships on July 15-18, with both events held in the Estonian city. The World Under-20 Championships in Kenya is still happening in August, but British Athletics has decided not to send a team.
On Sunday in Bedford the sprint hurdler Lily Parris of Chelmsford claimed the under-20 women's 100m hurdles gold with 13.68 (-0.3) ahead of Abigail Pawlett and Mallory Cluley (see main image above).
Tiarnan Crorken of Preston Harriers won the under-23 men's 1500m in 3:40.53 as he out-ran Joshua Lay, George Mills, Matthew Stonier and Thomas Keen in the closing stages of a competitive metric mile.
Another middle-distance runner in form was Daniel Joyce of Tynedale Harriers as he ran 1:52.43 to win the under-20 men's 800m with a strong finish.
In the jumps, Henry Clarkson of Edinburgh AC was a decisive winner of the under-23 men's triple jump with 15.00m (1.0).
Kristal Awuah had a busy and successful weekend as the Herne Hill Harrier added to her under-23 women's 100m title on Saturday with a 200m gold on Sunday. She ran 23.24 (-0.2) into a slight headwind.
Also impressing in the sprints was Shemar Boldizsar, who clocked 20.81 (0.1) to win the under-23 men's 200m in cool conditions at Bedford.
Success Eduan once again lived up to her name with victory in the under-20 women's 200m in 23.70 (0.1).
In the race walks, Chris Snook of Aldershot, Farnham & District won the under-23 men's 10,000m in 44:45.98 while Bethan Davies won the under-23 women's equivalent in 47:07.97.
It was great to see Dominic Ogbechie return to form as well. The multi-talented Highgate athlete won the under-20 high jump with 2.13m.
In the hammer, Katie Head took the under-23 women's title with 62.38m as she was watched by her father, Paul, the Olympian and Commonwealth medallist, while Ben Hawkes of Worthing took the under-23 men's hammer crown with 68.03m.
To read our report from the first day of the championships, CLICK HERE
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