The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Robbie Shaw launched a massive 16.24m shot put throw to claim the bronze medal at the England Athletics under-15 and under-17 Championships.
The Nene Valley Harrier, who is trained by South Holland legend Geoff Capes, managed third in the under-17 event thanks to a big throw in the sixth and final round.
His throw during the warm-up would have won him the competition – but Shaw was still more than happy as he ranked as the top English thrower on the day.
Having already taken bronze medal at the English Schools in July, it’s been a mighty impressive season for the Harrier.
Also competing for Nene Valley was Alex Hampson, who finished a very respectable ninth in the under-17 men’s 1,500m with a time of 4.12.32mins.
The Harriers had a number of first time competitors at the Championships.
One of them was the bubbly Rosie Fresen, who competed in the under-15 pole vault. She cleared a creditable 2.50m, which gave her 20th place overall.
The experience will be vital for Fresen in what is her first season competing in the pole vault.
Another to debut was Cassey Hilliam, who finished ninth in her tough under-15 800m heat with a time of 2.23.79min.
Alex Pullan made her way through the heats of the under-15 girls’ 100m with a time marginally slower than her personal best of 12.97secs.
But despite making a better start, she ran marginally slower in the semi-final to finish seventh in a time of 13.03secs.
Pullan returned the next day to compete in the long jump, finishing 14th with a jump of 4.94m. She was joined in the under-15 girls’ category by Jasmine Allen, who – like Pullan – had qualified for both this and the 200m, which was to be run just after the long jump.
Allen finished in 21st place with 4.61m, but both girls found the new (valuable) experience just a little bit too much for them.
Many do not realise that these events are completely different, the warm up area, the call up room and the whole regimented event preparation and the effect it has on a new athlete.
In the 200m heats, both Allen and Pullan finished sixth with times of 26.95secs and 26.99secs respectively.
Both girls clearly felt the effects of the long jump immediately prior to this event and realised that it is not easy to compete at this level twice in the same day.
However, the benefit of the experience will be invaluable for both and Nene Valley can all expect to see them at more national events in the future.
