The first of this seasons Trafford Tuesday night meetings took place on April 22nd – featuring fifteen Blackburn Harriers. First off were the 3000m races  – four Heats with 88 athletes in total saw Evie Taylor and Tanith-Jade Ellis going in the final Heat – Evie posting a time of 10.46.2 in 11th and Tanith 12.01.49 in 22nd. U15 Jack Baranowski clocked 2.00.82 in placing 4th in his 800m Heat, a time which takes him into 2nd place in the National Rankings. In the next Heat, U17 Matthew Haxton clocked a new PB of 2.07.99 by over 8 seconds from his previous best set in 2023. V40 Marcin Baranowski kicked off his season at the Mid Lancs over 800m with a 2.09 and replicated that again with 2.09.20 in 9th spot. U20 Poppi Watson went into her 800m Heat with a best time of 2.21 and improved that by running a new PB of 2.19.99 in 2nd place. In the penultimate 800m Heat 11 V35 Sara Baranowska ran 2.38.63 in 7th place – her first run over the distance since 2021.

ALL PHOTOGRAHS ON BLACKBURN HARRIERS FACEBOOK PAGE – HERE

Jack Baranowski (173)

Poppi Wtason (310)

On to the 1500m races and in Heat 1 U20 Ben Stratton started off with a best time of 3.57.44 which he reduced by nearly three seconds in clocking a new PB time of 3.54.67. Team mate U20 Oliver Gill was expected to go in the first Heat but got placed in to Heat 2 where he made all the running up to 200m to go, finishing in 8th spot (4.06.92). First year U23 Hayden Mercer last ran a 1500m race in 2023 and had a best time of 4.16.20 which he duly broke setting a new PB of 4.10.10 – an improvement of over 6 seconds as he came home in 2nd spot. In the same Heat Jack Wood (U17) continued the flurry of new personal bests as he ran a new PB 4.16.97 – some six seconds better than his previous best set in 2024 in the UKYDL League. Having run 4.27.8 in the 2024 UKYDL League, first year U17 William Grundy chopped a whopping 10 seconds off his previous best time in setting a new PB of 4.17.61 in 2nd spot in Heat 5. First year U20 Ethan Cutler had only once previously run over 1500m which was also at Trafford where he ran 4.45.10 in 2024. In a perfectly judged race, Ethan worked his way through the field to take the win in a new PB time of 4.26.22, close to 19 seconds improvement. U17 George Holman, in his first yeat in this age category ran in the following Heat having run 4.46.9 previously in 2024. Taking the lead over the first part of the race George came home in 3rd place, adding another new PB of 4.40.68 to the total of new personal bests on the night. Final race of the night – Heat 8 of the 1500m had 2nd year U17 Isabelle Perry running who went into the evening race with a personal best of 5.20.4. Clocking 5.10.62 in 7th spot, Isabelle made it nine new PB’s on the night.

Ben Stratton (39)

Isabelle Perry (164)

At Trafford on Easter Monday Blackburn Harriers Millie Jordan (U15) opened her outdoor season in the 800m which was a mixed race of U15 Boys and Girls. Millie ran 2.18.89 and was 2nd U15 Girl and 6th overall. U17 Leonie Harris was also out in this Open meeting, running 15.74 in the 100m (4th) and 33.72 in the 200m in 5th spot. (RESULTS)

Ξ

Some good performances by Blackburn Harriers Hammer athletes recently as Charlotte Williams opened up her outdoor season at the Wichita State KT Woodman Classic on Saturday April 12th – featuring two pools numbering 28 Hammer Throwers in total – Charlotte finished in 5th place overall, throwing 54.24m (RESULTS).

Ξ

Helen Leigh had a cracking cross country season and has continued in a similar vein, this time over the 5k at what is described as Scotalnd’s premier 5k road race. The programme is extensive, covering distances from 3k, 5k and relays and held over seven hours from 2.00pm through to 7.00pm. (RESULTS). Helen ran a new PB of 17.30.9 which was a whopping minute and a half better than her previous best time set back in 2018. Follwing the race Helen told the Club “Had a few weeks of niggles after a tough xc season, so wasn’t expecting too much, I ended up feeling surprisingly strong despite the wind! So chuffed with that, didn’t disgrace myself in a stacked field either. Hopefully creep towards sub 17 this year maybe“.

Helen Leigh (leading).

♥