One of the highlights of the track and field season took place on 12th and 13th July – the English Schools Championships at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. Thirty-nine Rugby and Northampton AC athletes were selected to compete for their county schools teams, with athletes representing a number of different counties, namely Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands. The club’s athletes excelled at the championships, with many reaching the finals of their respective events.
There were an astonishing eight individual medallists from the club. Moyo Stumpenhusen gained an excellent bronze medal in the Intermediate Boys’ Discus, and Issy Knight snatched bronze in the Intermediate Girls’ 300 metres Hurdles, with a new personal best of 44.17. Silver medals went to Laike Favier, Grace McCollin and Hayley Dimond. Laike ran a new lifetime best of 36.63 in the Junior Boys’ 300 metres, and Grace ran superbly for her silver medal in the Intermediate Girls’ 80 metres Hurdles, setting a great new personal best of 11.49 seconds. In the Senior Girls’ Shot Hayley added a massive 82 centimetres to her previous best to achieve 13.01 metres, an amazing performance.
Extraordinary performances saw three club athletes gain gold medals and become English Schools champions! Charlie Cook threw 52.37 metres to win the Junior Boys’ Javelin by over two metres. In the Senior Boys’ 400 metres Hurdles Ollie Parker stormed to victory and in the Senior Boys’ 200 metres Fabian Powell ran an outstanding 20.80 seconds to take the championship title, breaking the championship best performance which has stood for 47 years! An incredible achievement.
In addition to the individual medallists, Esme Du Bois, Olivia Monk and Ben Wyle all gained bronze medals as part of the Warwickshire 4×100 metres Intermediate Mixed Relay team. Well done to you all.
As well as our eight individual medallists, four athletes finished in fourth place, just outside the medals, in fiercely contested races. Congratulations to Harrison Nash in the Intermediate Boys’ 200 metres, Mary Taylor in the Junior Girls’ 300 metres, Luke Turner in the Senior Boys’ 400 metres Hurdles and Esme Du Bois in the Intermediate Girls’ 100 metres – superb performances.
As a result of their performances two Rugby and Northampton AC athletes have been selected to compete for England Schools in the SIAB Track and Field International on 20th July in Carmarthen, Wales. Huge congratulations go to Grace McCollin and Moyo Stumpenhusen on gaining their schools international vests.
The championships showcased the great talent of so many athletes at Rugby and Northampton AC, and the strength in depth of the club. Well done to everyone who competed!
