Respectable placings for Harriers at National Champs

by Chris Jeggo and Rob Earle

Colchester Harriers were represented by three athletes at the England U23 and U20 Championships which were held at the Bedford International Athletic Stadium over the weekend of 22nd & 23rd June.

With the event being combined with the trials for the respective European Championships in Sweden in July, the event was a key date on the calender for those vying for GB selection. Such was the importance of the meet, national exposure was provided for the first time by the BBC via the red button.

The U23 Women’s Hammer competition attracted the best ever field of competitors in the meetings history; competing as a second year in the age group was Megan Larkin who achieved a best throw of 54.68m to finish in ninth place her second best ever and on parr with her season so far.  It was however good enough to beat Michaela Wlash from Ireland – a seasoned International age group and senior champion.  Larkins now has the opportunity to challenge the top end domestic throwers before her departure to University in the USA during August.

Billy Praim-Singh in his first year at the U23 age group, worked hard throughout his competition and  continued his season’s good form, achieving  his second best ever distance of 55.19m, just a mere 1cm behind his personal best, battling hard for sixth place.  He now has opportunities to move through the UK rankings and challenge for Harriers top spot!

Rebecca Jeggo was competing in her final year in the U20 age group in the 200m. She looked comfortable in finishing second in her heat in a personal best time of 24.23s into a head wind of -2.1. In her semi-final she finished strongly to take third in 24.41s and a place in her first U20 National final. Rebecca finished her day with a respectable 6th place in another consistent time of 24.41s, into a -2.6 headwind. Rebecca’s heat time ranks her 8th in the country in the 2019 U20 Women’s 200m, with all her times inside the Senior British Athletics Championships qualifying standard.

Diane Wooller was also at the meeting as part of the officiating team.

Thanks to coaches Rob Earle and Steve Garnham for their support on the day.