RUGBY & NORTHAMPTON PROGRESS TO NATIONAL FINAL
The Athletic Club’s dominant Youth Development League campaign continues as they secure a National Final appearance
Rugby & Northampton secured a place in the Youth Development League Lower Age National Final on Saturday with a second-place finish in Round 4.
A depleted team took to the field at Stantonbury Stadium, Milton Keynes, knowing a place in the National Final was up for grabs. Although Marshall Milton Keynes AC won the round, it was R&N celebrating as they secured a place in September’s showpiece.
Leading the way were the under-13 boys team, who registered five A-string wins as the club achieved a 547.5-point tally.
Luke Gosling claimed top spot in the 75 metre hurdles, completing the race in 12.72 seconds. Also on the track, Noah Bennett won the 1500m in four minutes and 56.17 seconds.
A throw of 9.24 metres was enough for Josh Tutt to win the shot put event, while Kaiyuki Crisp (4.52m) and Lewis Gurney (1.35m) were winners in the long jump and high jump respectively.
Thomas Ball notched a personal best 33.08 metres to triumph in the U15 Boys’ discus competition. Also victorious in their event was 1500m-runner Adam Caulfield (4:22.90).
It was a great day for Connor Dadge who recorded personal bests on his way to third in the 200m (24.00) and second in the long jump (5.82m).
Ben Hope’s (2:11.84) runners-up finish in the 800m and third place for pole vaulter Cian Hutton’s – with a personal best height of two metres – completed the top A-string results, while Matthew Barnaby (38.82, PB) won the 300m B event.
It was a strong performance by the U13 Girls team as they registered two victories, three second-place finishes and three B-string wins.
In the field, Megan Burge won the long jump with a personal-best 4.74m while Jess Roberts (24.19m) was successful in the javelin. Eve Corrigan (7.69m) and Zoe Gardner (1.35m) were runners-up in the shot put and high jump respectively.
Gardner (2:41.74) was also successful on the track, finishing third in the 800m, and Claudia Searle (3:59.29) went one better to come second in the 1200m with a personal-best time.
Corrigan added a pair of B-string wins with a strong jumping performance. She recorded a PB in the long jump (4.36m) and won the high jump with a measure of 1.25m.
Leading the U15 Girls was sprinter Mary Beetham-Green. Her time of 26.15 seconds secured a 200m win while a 12.62 PB was enough for third in the 100m. Also on the track, Lucy Stevens (4:58.23) produced a 1500m personal best for third.
Pole vault success went to Georgina Woodward with a PB of 2.20m, and Eloise Nowill cleared 1.50m for second in the high jump.
R&N ended the day with a trio of second-place finishes in the throwing events. Georgi Jones (25.00m) and Abigail Ward (28.23m) were runners-up in the discus and javelin while Lily-May Pursey (9.70m) matched the feat in the shot put. Pursey (35.54m) added a third-place in the hammer.
B-string victories went to Maia Reynolds (21.34m) in the discus, javelin thrower Abigail Pearce (26.37m); and Anna Ivanova’s 1.45m high jump was enough to win the event and round off a fantastic day for the club.
The YDL upper age team are in action at home on Sunday 24th July with the chance to clinch the Midlands title and a place in the National Final with a top-three finish in Rugby.
