Early Winter Indoor Performances
There were some encouraging early winter performances from the club's younger athletes at the South of England indoor championships for Under 15s and Under 17s on the weekend of 7th and 8th January.
Our young athletes bagged an impressive seven medals.In the Under 15 age group, Emily Eades-Scott reached the semi-final with a 60m personal best of 8.19 seconds to go third on the club all-time rankings. Emily was then joined by Tabitha Proudley in the 200 metres heats the following day. Both reached the semi-finals , Emily winning her heat in 27.50 and Tabitha placing third in hers with 27.90. Emily just missed out on a place in the final despite improving to 27.37 in her Semi while Tabitha just ran out of steam in hers.
Going up in distance, Under 15s Jack McDonald broke the club indoor record with 39.81 seconds as he won a great bronze medal. Oliver Thatcher was 4th in the same race with a personal best 42.21 seconds. Oliver had a good championships, winning Shot Put bronze with a personal best 10.19 metres. In the Under 15 Girls final, Maisie Jeger went one better with bronze in 44.93 seconds.
Amaya Scott, making her debut at 400 m, placed second in her Under 17 women's heat with 62.21 seconds before going on to place 5th in the final. Amaya didn't leave empty handed, winning Shot Put bronze with 12.69 metres while younger sister, Lara, placed 4th in the Under 15 girls' High Jump, missing out on bronze on countback with a personal best 1.50 metres.
In the Senior Men's 1500 metres final, Richard Waldron achieved a personal best 4:15.59 minutes in 9th place.
More medals for Southampton came from Callum Gregson, 3rd in the Under 15 boys 60m Hurdles in a personal best 9.21 seconds, going on to win a silver in the high jump win a sparkling PB 1.70 metres. In the girls' sprint hurdles final Lucy-Jane Matthews capped a return from an injury ravaged couple of years to win silver with 9.23 seconds in a desperately close finish; sharing the same time as the winner.
Dan Hoiles matched his indoor personal best of 3.20 metres in the Under men's pole vault.
At the Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow open meeting on Sunday 8th January, Under 15 Jasmyn Allen clicked a personal best 8.46 seconds for 60 metres, also winning the Long Jump in an indoor PB 4.85 metres.
Finley Ryves broke the club Under 15 Boys' 60 metres record with 7.61 seconds at the same meeting.
Under 13s Grace Colmer achieved a seasons 60m best of 8.99 seconds and Amy Wall a Personal Best 9.05 sec.
In the 60m hurdles Under 15 Abigail Warrington registered a seasons best 11.07 seconds. Grace Colmer returned to clock 10.64 sec. Personal Bests were achieved by Amy Wall, 11.60 sec and Under 15 Elizabeth Adamson 10.58 sec.
Shot personal Bests were achieved by Emma Hunter 9.71 metres and Elizabeth Adamson 9.63 sec.
Gary MacDonald-Gray