Rugby and Northampton’s under 13 and under 15 athletes started their season in fine style at the first match of the Lower YDL held at Rugby on 20th April, on a mainly sunny day!
The under 13 teams impressed, with many athletes making their YDL debuts and giving superb performances. There were a number of fine first places, with the club taking maximum points in several events – Alex Kampta and David Allen in the 800m, Joe Walden and Robert Copeland in the 75m Hurdles, Joe Walden and Ludo Lindsay in the High Jump and Natalya Warwood and Taya Young in the girls High Jump. There were further first places for Harry Rogers in the 75m B race, James Taylor Shot A, Rufus Jones Javelin B, Bella Lamb 1200m A, Betsy Fahey 75m Hurdles A, Amelia Rex Shot B and Anya Haresign Javelin B.
In the under 13 girls’ 800m the club’s two scoring athletes exceeded all expectations with marvellous personal bests – Freya Carty taking 18 seconds from her previous best to run 2.38.86, and Elsie Rudkin-Wilson running 2.44.22, a new best by 14 seconds.
Every athlete in the under 13 teams competed with real courage and determination; well done to all of you.
The under 15 teams were equally impressive. Mary Taylor scored great victories in both the A string 300m and Discus. Emily Elden also had a busy and successful day, with victories in the 100m B string and High Jump A, while Damilola Ajagunna took first place in the High Jump B and Javelin B. Further victories came from Isla Kendall in the 200m B, Elsa Gordon in the 300m B, Isabella Milanesi in the 75m Hurdles and Ava Hession in the B Hammer. The under 15 girls’ relay teams grabbed first place in both the 4×100 m and the 4x300m, with great runs from Ava Hession, Emily Elden, Isla Kendall and Jasmine Jessamy in the 4×100 and Jess Lamb, Claudia Terrell, Elsa Gordon and Mary Taylor in the 4x300m.
In the under 15 boys’ events maximum points were scored by Sonny Briggs-McKellar and Zac Thorpe in the 80m Hurdles, and Dexter Barrett and Kayden Edwards in the Hammer. Dexter also gained first place in the Shot B event. Laike Favier triumphed in a hotly contested 800m race, with Oliver Knight and Charlie Cook victorious in the A string High Jump and Javelin respectively.
At the end of an excellent day of track and field athletics Rugby and Northampton gained a superb first place overall, winning by a big margin of 134 points from Marshall Milton Keynes. Every athlete who took part is to be commended for their efforts and contributing to an incredible start to the season. As always, it was a tremendous team effort! We now look forward to the second Lower YDL fixture, at Stoke on 19th May.
