On a day – September 8th –  with mixed weather fortunes throughout, a number of the Harriers youngsters went over to compete in the Blackpool Open Medal meeting, traditionally held towards the end of the Track & Field season

Full Results HERE

In the U11’s age group Emily Raine and Eleesha Charnley, who both have boundless energy tackled the maximum three events. In the 80m’s there were five Heats involving thirty budding young athletes. Emily won her 80m Heat 3 (12.7secs) placing 5th overall whilst Eleesha ran in Heat 5 to take 3rd place in 13.5secs and finish 18th overall.

The girls went and tried their luck at the 600m held over two heats, one of which had 14 runners and the other 16. Emily placed 8th in the first Heat of 14 and 13th overall with a time of 2.15.4 – Eleesha competed in Heat 2 taking 4th place out of 16 and 10th overall (2.13.3)

Next up for these two bundles of energy was the U11G Long jump with Emily coming in 6th out of 33 contestants (3.33m) and Eleesha 15th (2.99m).

Moving up in age groups to the U13’s recent Club Record breaker Eloise Littlefair along with her friend Charlotte Williams competed in a number of events starting with the U13G 100m. There were three Heats involving 16 athletes. Eloise, finished 3rd in Heat 1 (15.2) and 5th overall, with Charlotte 6th  in the same Heat (16.1) and 13th in the combined two Heats.

On to the 70m Hurdles featuring two Heats totaling 13 young hurdlers. Heat 1 saw Eloise making her competitive debut in this event finishing in 3rd (13.5) and 6th in the two Heats, with Charlotte running a good new PB placing 4th in Heat 2 (13.6) and 7th overall.

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In the Throws, Eloise is starting to make a reputation for herself by breaking the Club Record for the Hammer and moving up the National Rankings. On Sunday she contested the Shot Putt with a field of 11 and won it with a throw of 8.49m improving her PB by half a metre and just 29cms short of Caris Lake’s Club Record set in 2001. In the National U13 Rankings, this throw moved Eloise up from 79th to 38th in one go and to 3rd in the North West Rankings. Charlotte took a good 4th place with 6.76m which was also a PB by 8cm and there is no doubt that these two young athletes are going to be big improvers in the Track & Field season 2014.

In the older age group of U17’s, Morgan Phillips showed good form to finish 2nd in the 800m in a time of 2.07.9 and his first competitive outing at the distance and pointing to a big revision of his 1500m time next year.

Consistent U17 Thrower Rebecca Orrell, who is currently placed at Number 1 in the North West Rankings and 16th at National level in the Hammer is coming towards the end of a very hectic competitive season which has seen her compete in the YDL Upper Age Group and the Northern League as well as County, Northern and English Schools Championships. On Sunday she competed in the Shot Putt for 3rd place (7.52m) and went on to win the Hammer competition with a throw of 37.67m.

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Amsterdam Open 31 Aug 13

Full Results HERE

Another athlete coming towards the end of her season which has been a good one following lots of injuries over the last two years, saw Alison Leonard compete at the Amsterdam Open. She finished 2nd (4.17.73) in the Race won by Emma Jackson. Alison recently smashed the Club’s 1500m Senior Women’s record by a whopping 5 seconds (4.13.74) and at the end of the season she finds herself well up the National Rankings with 1st place in the One Mile (U23’s) – 6th in the One Mile overall – 12th in the 1500m outdoors – 5th in the Indoor 1500m – 7th in the 800m outdoors and 3rd in the Indoor 800m. Roll on 2014.