With some impressive performances, West Wearside came out on top in the tracks events in the Durham Schools’ County Track and Field Championships at Monkton Stadium on Saturday.
With the event being hit by heavy rain throughout the programme, which led to the abandonment of the relays, young athletes were faced with dire conditions as they chased English Schools’ entry standards.
Three West Wearside athletes and one Easington sprinter achieved the tough marks which should ensure their place on the Durham team for the English Schools’ Championships at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8.
Although the selectors have stated that through the team now being restricted to 32 competitors, this could mean that some athletes who achieve an entry standard are not selected. Final selection will take place on Sunday for the English Schools’ Championships.
Athletes have another chance of achieving an entry standard at the Inter Counties on Saturday at Hexham. Performances outside schools athletics will be be taken into consideration in final selections.
The local athletes who beat the weather to achieve the entry standard at Monkton are: Junior girl Phillipa Ellis (West Wearside) in the 75m hurdles who won in 11.7, compared to her best of 10.92. She added the county schools’ title to that of the North Eastern Counties AA 75m hurdles and 100m titles she won in May.
Tia Anderson (Easington) won the Junior Girls’ 200m in 25.9 which was well inside the standard of 26.3. The Durham City Harrier has a best indoors of 25.80 and has won Northern and Scottish indoor titles over the distance....