AVEAC first and second claim athletes took part as guests at Burton Athletic Club’s Annual Championships on Monday and Thursday last week, showing good early season form in the process in the Javelin, Horizontal Jumps and Shot.
The two Javelin pools on Monday night saw AVEAC athletes produce very pleasing performances. Under 15 thrower Freya Kirby had a another consistent effort with the heavier 500g Javelin, throwing 28.52, not that far off her recent PB set at Nuneaton a few weeks ago; she was the highest placed U15 female athlete on the evening. In the Boy’s Under 15 category there was a PB for Gino Franco, throwing the 600g Javelin for the first time, managing a throw of 26.18m. Second claim athlete Ewan Collier also recorded a best ever throw of 32.69m in the Under 15 category and was the highest placed athlete in that age group. Imogen Laugharne took part in her first ever Javelin competition and with only two coaching sessions behind her and off a very short run up, she threw over 11 metres. With more coaching, she will be aiming for a 20m plus throw as she prepares for Heptathlon championships later in the year.
In the Senior ranks Jessie Brown produced another fine early season performance throwing 40.51m to place first while Alice Robinson’s effort of 29.04m was second. Nottingham University student Joss Foot who trains with the AVEAC squad was a comfortable winner of the Senior Men’s event with an excellent early season effort of 63.87m. Under 20, second claim member, Charli Sampson also produced a PB of 25.46m.
While the Javelin was taking place seven of the club’s first claim athletes and three second claim members competed in two pools of the Long Jump. In Pool A, Grace Young took the top spot and added 41 centimetres to her previous best with an excellent leap of 4.81m. There was also PBs for Ewan Collier who raced over from the Javelin to record a jump of 4.75m and for Izzy Hays who added 34cm to her previous best with a fine effort of 4:29m. Our final athlete in this pool, Alice Robinson equalled her PB of 4:09m set a couple of days earlier at the Gateshead Pentathlon.
Six athletes were in Pool B with Ryan Rawlinson finishing 2nd overall on 5.91m. Second Claim member Callum Findlay jumped 5.36m while Hugo Thomas having trouble with his run up managed 5.30m. Under 17s, Mae Jones and Imogen Laugharne recorded distances of 4.82m and 4.65m respectively while Second Claim, U20 multi-eventer Charli Sampson jumped 4.89m.
Alice Robinson, Charli Sampson and Imogen Laugharne also competed in the Shot. Alice and Charli throwing the 4kg implement recorded distances of 9.05m and 8.41m while Imogen’s distance throwing the lighter 3kg Shot was 7.92m.
On Thursday second claim members Ewan Collier, Izzy Haworth and Callum Findlay contested the Open Triple Jump. The weather had turned from Monday’s sunny conditions with temperatures dropping to just above freezing. Undeterred, the three Leapers all recorded PBs. Ewan taking part in the event for the first time jumped 9.87m. Izzy who took the bronze medal in last Summer’s English Championships at U15 level added over 20 centimetres to her previous best jumping 10.53m. Callum left his best effort to the last round and had an excellent jump of 12.35m to take first place overall adding 34 centimetres to his best ever mark set at last year’s Nottinghamshire Championships. Both Izzy and Callum will be welcome additions to this year’s Upper YDL Team and will join the team for the first fixture at Derby on April 24th.
All in all it was a good couple of evenings for the athletes and allowed them to set some early season bench marks to move on from. A big thank to Burton AC and their Chair, Jaime Walker for giving our athletes the opportunity to take part which was very much appreciated by the athletes themselves, their coaches and parents.
Words – J McColgan
Top photos – Chris Kirby
Bottom photos – J McColgan