Regional athletics round-up
Aug 25 2008 The Journal
DESPITE the windy conditions, there were several outstanding performances at Saturday’s 14th Tartan Games at Gateshead International Stadium.
British Junior International Richard Kilty easily won the Under-20s 100m and 200m for the second successive year, while Cleveland-based Border Harrier Lloyd Powell cleared a personal best height to win the senior high jump adding two centimetres to his previous figures.
English Schools silver medallist Stacey Smith of Gateshead, clocked a personal best time to win the senior 800m, improving her previous performance by 1.6secs.
English Schools champion Kayleigh Mills, of Middlesbrough Mandale, won the Under-17 hammer.
Middlesbrough athletes had a successful day as Fezan Mughi (Under-13 Boys) and Lee Burrell (Under-15 Boys) gained sprint doubles in their respective age-groups.
Jarrow’s James Lovatt won the Under-17 100m and 200m, while clubmate Nick Wood won the Under-15 sprint hurdles and high jump.
Katherine Rogers of Blaydon gained a double victory in the Under-13 sprint hurdles and long jump.
A depleted North East squad competed well at Saturday’s Northern Athletics Inter County Championships at Hull.
The best team performance came from the Under-17 men who finished second to Yorkshire.
Individually, the Under-17 women gained most victories but the team surprisingly finished down in seventh place. Recently-crowned national champion Emma Pringle, of Gateshead, won the triple jump and shot putt. Gateshead’s Kimberley Burt took the discus title and Sophie Wood, of Durham, won the 300m hurdles.
Redcar’s Ben Wears won the senior 5km walk, which also incorporated the North of England championship. His brothers, Adam and Zak, also took gold and silver respectively in the Under-17 and Under-15 events.
The in-form Jarrow and Hebburn athlete, Greg Ritchie gained victory in the Under-17 3000m and Middlesbrough’s Ben Daley won the Under-17 hammer.
Morpeth’s Rachel Denton won the Under-15 1500m, while Grace Rodgers, from Loftus, triumphed in the Under-15 800m, competing in the Yorkshire colours.
LES VENMORE
