WHILE the region’s endurance runners were plundering the spoils at the Northern Cross-Country Championships in North Yorkshire numerous North East athletes ventured in the opposite direction to contest the Scottish Under-17/Senior Indoor Championships at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow and the results were equally impressive.
A total of five gold medals, three silver and a bronze winged their back across the Border and for those who missed out on a podium place personal bests we’re the order for many. Morpeth’s Amy Lott set the scene for a superb days sport by storming home to win the under-17 60m hurdles in a new life-time best of 8.81secs, a time which places her third in the Po10 rankings. Amy had negotiated a heat and semi-final as did Kate Smith and the Tynedale athlete was equally impressive by making it onto the podium in bronze medal position with a new pb time of 8.8s. After the Northumberland club’s success it was the turn of Gateshead athletes to top the podium and those parents and coaches who made the trip had plenty to celebrate as four gold medals were the order of the day! In the under-17 60 metres Joy Eze was the defending champion and record holder and not only did she repeat last year’s victory she went on to clock a new championship best time of 7.74s which equalled her best-ever figures. Such is the strength of sprinting at Gateshead at this age group at the moment two other athletes, Susan Folorunso and Darcey Garbutt, both made it through to the final, Susan finishing just outside the medals in fourth place (7.83s) while Darcey clocked 7.94s for sixth. In the same age group Morpeth’s Alice Geoghegan finished in fifth place in the 300m final recording 42.74s while Gateshead’s Evie Harrison also finished fifth in the 200m final clocking a season’s best of 26.85s. The under-17 men’s 60 metres saw Gateshead’s Matthew Lumb top the podium with pb figures of 7.15s after recording 7.26s and 7.23s in the heats and semi-final respectfully. Chester-le-Street’s Luke Russell also made it through to the final but did not start. There was another gold medal run to savour for Gateshead when, in the same age category Daniel Lennie stormed home to win the 200 metres gold medal recording a new pb of 22.91s, a time which moves him up to eighth in this year’s indoor rankings. Aaron Lillistone just failed in his attempt to top the podium in the 60m hurdles, however his clocking of 8.35s for second place was not only a new pb but moves the Tynesider into the rankings top 10. Competing in the senior women’s 200 metres Gateshead junior international Jazmine Moss stamped her authority on the event leaving her rivals chasing the minor honours. Jazmine’s winning time of 24.21s, a time which has the sprinter ranked number three. Also in the senior women’s section Jarrow and Hebburn’s Nicola Caygill set a new pb of 7.63s in the 60 metres to finish in silver medal position. In the senior men’s 60 metres Gateshead’s Scott Hall won his heat (7.02s) and semi-final (6.90s) but did not start in the final. Amongst the field events Gateshead’s Sophie Littlemore finished in second place in the senior women’s shot put competition (12:89m) while club colleague Fraser Wright competing in the senior men’s event missed out by just one centimetre in making it onto the podium however his 12:89m put for fourth place was a new pb. Comments are closed.
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AuthorBill McGuirk is the North East's top athletics correspondent. NECAA Chairman and official, Bill can be found at all local athletics events supporting the sport he loves. Archives
January 2023
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