The Essex Indoor Championships staged at the Lee Valley Sports Centre provided more gold for CAC members, put together with the haul from recent past performances it could resemble Fort Knox. These latest successes were also gained by achieving new championship records.
On day one seven members mounted the podium as victors. The shot putt provided two of these in the women's events. Most outstanding without doubt must go to Monica Malagala for her best effort of 13.84m set a new record in the under 17-year age range, also in this event Olivia Mullineaux with 11.54m placed fourth. To the under 20`s and Amelie Scott achieved a pb of 10.17m in gaining her win whilst Milana Thorpe came up with 9.54m to take second place. Another to break the previous best championship performance Harry Hughes soared over the bar in the pole vault at 3.40m to win the under 15 boy’s title. James Becker stated his intentions from the heats of the 60 metres winning in 7.10s followed by 7.04s in the semi-final and then 6.89s to take the under 20`s title - his time better than achieved in the senior age group. Another under 20 Stephen Adesina found success in the shot put with 12.32m, also placing fourth in the long jump with 5.95m. Stanley Adams from the under 13`s placed second in the long jump but whilst the winner took gold in the Eastern Counties result it was an Essex first place for Stanley. Back to the girls and Chloe Allam after a heat win in 9.60s improved to 9.12s for the 60m hurdles title with Shindara Ayo-Adeyemo picking up the silver medals in this event for under 15`s. There was also silver for Felicity Charles in the under 13`s long jump with 4.28m and bronze for Abigail McElroy in the under 17`s 60m flat with 7.82s after wins in heats and semi-final of the under 17`s. Bronze also for William Becker from the under under 13`s 60m event with 8.43s - after a semi-final of 8.36s. Out of the medals in fourth spot but what a race a final of the under 15`s sprint was for only three hundreds of a second parted the four boys, with Jayden Anaba on 7.44s missing out.
Day two and it started as day one with a championship win from Amelie Scott as she won the under 20`s long jump title with a leap of 5.66m, Milana Thorpe placed 4th with 4.84m. From the triple jump for under 17`s CAC where well represented - and in force for here it was a first for Abigail McElroy with 10.83m and second for Abigail Nwakor on 10.66m whilst Katie Lowe placed fifth with 10.14m. Sam Steadman, second in his heat of the under 17`s 400 metres reversed the position to lift the title with 51.35s. At under 20 level Thomas Carter second past the line in 1m 59.11s picked up the Essex gold for it was a Cambridge athlete ahead lifting the Eastern title. The 1500m provide two titles with Fred Ferman well ahead of the under 17`s with 4m 19.79s and Lewis Harknett taking the senior event in 4m 08.48s. There was also a bronze from the under 20`s with Harry Wright timed at 4m07.86s. The middle distance had also provided medals for the girls. In the under 13`s Bella Kehoe took the 800 metres in 2m 26.01s with Sadie Davis 3rd on 2m 29.79s. To the under 15`s and Isla Kehoe with 2m 20.73s and Orla Martin 2m 29.79s placed second and third and moving up to the under 20`s and Siena Shipton was another picking up silver with 2m 19.76s. In the under 17`s Missy Tiller could not improve on her heat time of 2m 27.01s and was to place fifth. Two golds earlier in the day for Daniel Sheriff won the boys under 13 high jump with a clearance of 1.40m whilst James Becker after his success the previous day over 60m took the Essex 200 metre title with 21.75s. However, the Eastern title was to be shared for James and Sean O`Donnell of Ireland and Peterborough could not be separated on the time of 21.75s, a great race. Other medals were won by Toby Tubbs third in the under 15`s 300m with 40.92s and in the same age group by Jayden Anaba in the 200m again third with24.03s. In the girls under 17 level Amy Pugsley placed 3rd in the high jump with 1.60m with Chelsea Clarke 5th on 1.55m. The 300 meters brought two medals with Lily Hartman, 41.27s, and Nicole Hawkins, 41.59, only bettered by a championship record being set of 40.08s. From the long jump Chelsea Clarke came out with the silver medal with her 5.07m with Amy Pugsley just missing out on the medal ceremony with her 4.91m.
Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.
