The annual UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, where teams from all counties in the UK,
including the North East will be in action. is being held on Saturday 7th March, and the event also incorporates the final of the popular UK Cross Country Challenge. The North East has now finalised its list of competing athletes. Morpeth Harriers athletes included are, Carl Avery, Alex Brown (Senior Men), Catriona MacDonald (Senior Women), Ross Charlton, Daniel Dixon, and Daniel Melling (Under 20 Men), Rowan Bennett, Dylan Gooding (Under 17 Men), Holly Peck (Under 17 Women), Ryan Davies, Joe Dixon, (Under 15 Boys), Abi Leiper (Under 15 Girls), and Oliver Tomlinson (Under 13 Boys). Two athletes from Morpeth Harriers took part in the annual British Universities Indoor Track and Field Championships, held in Sheffield over Friday, Saturday and Sunday 14th, 15th and 16th February.
Under 20 Sprinter Jessica Young-Rogers finished an excellent third in her opening heat of the 60m, producing a new personal best time of 7.94s. However, the Sunderland University first year student found things a little tougher in her later run Semi Final, where she finished seventh, with a time of 7.97s. Ruaridh Lang, currently studying nearby at Sheffield University, produced a personal best of 11.81m in the Shot Putt, and finished fourth amongst the contingent of Under 23 athletes. With storm Ciara and Dennis between them putting paid to any North Eastern Cross Country activity for the second week in succession, it was down to the warmth of Indoor Athletics to come to the competitive rescue for some of the regions hardy competitors at the weekend.
Two days of competition took place at Gateshead College throughout Saturday and Sunday, with the region hosting its annual Championships, with Field Events being held on the first day, and the Track specialists in action on the Sunday. Amongst those taking part, were eleven athletes from Morpeth Harriers, who between them managed to pick up five Gold Championship medals. Three were won on the first day, courtesy of Charlotte Earl, who won the Under 17 Women’s Triple Jump, with a best effort of 10.77m, which was a good metre clear of her closest rivals. Under 20 Athlete Kayleigh Wenn was also a Triple Jump winner, posting a new personal best of 9.28m. Wenn also won Gold, because the event winner in front of her was not eligible on residency grounds. The third first day medallist was Senior Man Craig Charlton, who produced a new personal best of 15.54m in the Shot Putt. Unfortunately, Morpeth will not have Charlton for the forthcoming Summer competition, as having moved RAF Stations, he will be linking up with British League club Woodford Green. Morpeth’s other Gold medallist was Over 55 Veteran Peter Tynemouth, who had respective age group wins in the 60m Hurdles (12.94s), and 60m Sprint (9.28s). Despite recording two personal bests of 9.91s, then 9.83s in the Under 15 Girls 60m Hurdles, Morpeth’s Hannah Lott just missed out on a podium place. Fellow Morpeth Harrier Kaitlyn Waddell also made it through to the final of the 60m Hurdles, recording respective times of 10.62s, then 10.32s in the Final, where she finished sixth. In his first ever North East Championship, Under 13 Boy athlete Harrison Scott, made it to the final of the 60m, where he finished fifth in 8.97s. Harrison had finished third in his earlier heat in 8.96s. Posting a brand-new personal best of 8.10s, Under 17 Woman Mia Belton made it through to the final of her 60m Sprint. Her time of 8.12s saw her finish fifth in the later run final. Morpeth’s Freya Caygill and Victoria Hodgson both produced new personal bests of 8.35s, and 8.64s in the Under 15 Girls 60m Sprints. Caygill’s performance qualified her for the A final, where she finished fifth, with another personal best of 8.31s, whilst Hodgson finished an accomplished second in the B final, again with new figures of 8.42s. On the first day of competition on Saturday, Kaitlyn Waddell had her first taste of Under 15 Field competition, where she cleared 1.31m in the High Jump, and Putted 7.99m in the Shot for sixth place. Another Morpeth athlete competing in the Under 15 Girls Shot Putt was Georgia Turner, who was seventh, producing a best of 7.86m. Grand Valley State Indoor Big Meet Festival
Hot News from the states reveals that on Friday 14th February 2020, Morpeth Harrier James Young beat off fifty-nine other rivals to win a series of Mile events at the Grand Valley State Indoor Big Meet Festival, held in Allendale, Michigan. Young’s new personal best time of 4m04.14s was nearly two and a half seconds faster than his closest rival, and it also places him as eighth fastest in the 2020 UK Rankings for the distance. He is currently in his first year of study at the Academy of Art in Nevada. rish eyes were smiling for the eleven Morpeth Harriers who made the short journey across the Irish Sea
to take part in the 30th running of the prestigious Brooks Armagh 5k International Road Race on Thursday 13th February 2020 With no less than nine of those running personal bests and the other two season’s, the event continues to justify its eye-catching tag of ‘Go fast or go home’ while justifying its claim that no other race brings together so many athletes running under 15 minutes. On an evening of slightly chilly but otherwise near perfect conditions, once again it seemed that residents of the small Irish town turned out en masse to support the 14 race event, which begins with no less than 11 hugely popular Junior races and culminates in the women’s 3k and men’s 5k on a course comprising 1kilometre loops of the city centre. Won by Adam Clarke in a time of 13 minutes and 42 seconds, Morpeth’s Chris Parr, sharpened no doubt by having won the Dewsbury 10k a couple of weeks ago, had an outstanding run to record a personal best time of 13:54 for 10th place. Next home for Morpeth was Rory Leonard, 27th in a time of 14:04, another pb. He was followed home by Cameron Boyek in 31st (14:09), having his first run in a Morpeth vest and Carl Avery 32nd (14:10), both of whom ran season’s best times. Parr, Leonard, Boyek and Avery finished narrowly behind Leeds City in the club competition, picking up a tremendous second team medal ahead of the likes of such national outfits as Swansea AC, Highgate Harriers and Belgrave. Every other Morpeth athlete who finished thereafter ran personal bests, several by large margins. Joe Armstrong was 44th in 14:19; George Lowry 50th in 14:21; young Dan Dixon 77th in 14:38; James Taylor 121st in 14:51; Ross Floyd 125th in 14:53; Alistair Douglas 175th in 15:13 and Adam Pratt, 180th in 15:17. To put the quality of the field as a whole into perspective, the last runner placed 237th while still running 16:49. |
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