2008 DSE Junior Championships

Blackpool

On a wet and windy weekend in Blackpool, Panthers with colleagues from the East Region, took on the whole country to contest the National Championships. Overall 100 National records fell so it can be imagined how strong was the competition.

Kieron who has gone up an age group this year had an all round satisfactory weekend. He won his heat of the 100m and ran hard into 5th place in the final in 14.1s. The conditions were not good for his 200m heat but he managed 3rd spot and qualified for the final in which he took 7th place in 29.9s. In the 400m final The National record was shattered by the winner who dragged two other runners with him to superb times. In the face of such opposition, Kieron did brilliantly to take 4th place in 71.5s.

Olly  came home with an array of medals. He had an excellent silver medal in the long jump with 3.23m in poor conditions. The National Record went in the Javelin where Olly was a little disappointed to only take the Bronze Medal with a throw of 14.78m. In the 200m Olly powered round the bend behind two formidable opponents to take another Bronze Medal in 32.3s.

Olly was only inches away from another Bronze Medal when the 4 x 400m relay team finished 4th in 4m 8.0s behind the team in third who were timed at 4m 7.3s. The winners eclipsed the National Record.

In the Girls events, Charley -Ann threw the Javelin 5.39m to take 4th place and the Discus 4.76m to take 6th place.

Emma was very disappointed that the Meeting Manager cancelled the High Jump competition. The conditions, however, were dangerous for high jumping and it was found on inspection that the landing mat was not adequate to prevent injury. Emma would have her day, though, when she battled the conditions in the Long Jump and despite having her run up disturbed by the gusting wind she managed to record a valid jump of 2.79m to gain her the silver medal. Then came the event that the East had waited for and they were not disappointed when Emma ran away from the field over 1500m to claim the Gold Medal in a time of 6m 39.1s and the Title of National Champion!

Emma with her 2008 National Trophy and medals

Orwell Panthers AC is immensely proud of all its members but salutes Emma, Olly, Kieron and Charley-Ann for their efforts in Blackpool and congratulates all the Eastern athletes who finished in 5th place overall having obtained 32 Gold Medals, 35 Silver Medals and 12 Bronze Medals.

WELL DONE EVERYONE!

Full results can be downloaded from HERE.