Ayton and Wilson on right track in Leigh

May 31 2010 The Journal

THE region claimed two gold medals at this weekend’s Northern Junior Championships at Leigh Stadium.

Durham’s Liam Ayton won the under-17 1,500m steeplechase on Saturday and, for good measure, returned a day later to take the bronze medal in the 3,000m.

Sunderland’s Michael Wilson added the under-15 boys’ 800m title to the two victories he gained at the North East Championships three weeks ago.

The only field event medal was won by Reece Straker of North Shields Poly, who took silver in the under-17 hammer.

Jarrow’s Charmaine Porter gained bronze medals in the under-17 800m and 1500m.

The 800m title was won by Grace Rodgers from Loftus.

Durham’s Georgina Whitfield was narrowly defeated when taking silver in the under-17 women’s 300m.

Chester-le-Street’s Mia Hodgson took silver in the under-15 girls’ 75m hurdles, while Chloe Loredo of Shildon had to settle for second in the under-15 1,500m behind Carlisle’s Abbie Hetherington.

Carlisle gained another two golds in the under-15 age group – Natasha Wilson finishing second in the javelin and Chloe Moore runner-up in the hammer. Megan Bates from Eden won the 800m.

Heaton Harrier James Buis was a comfortable winner of yesterday’s third Watergate Trail Race at Lobley Hill.

Buis, who recently successfully defended his North Eastern 10,000m title in a personal best time, dropped his main rival – the in-form Graeme Taylor of Jarrow – after the halfway point, pulling away to victory by eight seconds.

The winner was having his first outing since winning the Windermere Marathon in a course-record time two weeks ago.

Sunderland’s Nathan Reed, who has been showing outstanding form on the track – including a victory in the North Eastern Junior 5,000m – finished in third place ahead of Morpeth veteran Neil Wilkinson.

Blackhill’s Sarah Lister easily won the women’s race from Heather Robinson of Chester-le-Street, who was returning to competition after a lengthy lay-off through injury. Mandy Herworth, of Claremont finished third.

The first British Miler’s Club Grand Prix Meeting at Manchester on Saturday night saw several of the region’s athletes gain personal best times.

Morpeth’s Laura Weightman won the main women’s 1,500m race, taking nearly half a second off her previous figures.

The Newcastle College student now tops the British junior rankings by a massive 12 seconds.

North Eastern champion Philip Hurst of Elswick took nearly eight seconds off his personal best time to win the D 1,500m race.

Former Elswick Harrier Ryan McLeod, now running for Tipton, improved his previous figures by over four seconds to finish third in the 5,000m.

Morpeth’s Jon Taylor finished third in the 1,500m.