English Schools Combined Event Championship for Two Young Harriers

Created by : Tom Shaw On : Sat, 09/28/2024 - 21:36
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A Report from Peter Fendley as the English Schools National Combined Events Championships were held at the Northwood Stadium in Stoke on Saturday/Sunday, 21st/22nd September 2024.

Worksop Harriers had two athletes, Alicia Wells and Brooklyn Crooks, competing in this prestigious event, comprising the best combined events athletes in the Country. Both had qualified through the Regional rounds and were representing Nottinghamshire Schools in these National finals, Alicia in the Senior Girls Heptathlon and Brooklyn in the Senior Boys Decathlon. Each of the individual events, in the Heptathlon and Decathlon, requires a combination of speed, strength and a high degree of technical ability, although the whole event can be considered an endurance event. This was more evident this year with the competition starting at 9am on Saturday morning and completing at 9pm on Sunday evening, with the Decathlon 1500m, making for a very long weekend for athletes, coaches, officials and parents. The competitors also had to contend with an electric storm on Saturday evening mainly affecting the Decathlon, curtailing the high jump and preventing the 400m taking place due to a flooded track. 

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Alicia had an excellent competition, finishing 7^th overall and performing well in all events. Her throws were the weaker events but that is not uncommon with the better athletes, overall, in the Heptathlon.  This is Alicia's first year in this age group and she will be hoping to be in medal contention at next year' finals.

Brooklyn had a more frustrating weekend, two of his events were cancelled, due to the electric storm, and then he sustained a shoulder injury which messed up his Javelin event. He is now starting at Trent University,  and we hope to see him competing in the University Championships (BUCS) over the next few year'.

With more young athletes joining our combined events group, and training hard several times a week, we hope to have a bigger representation in the English Schools finals next year.

Alicia's Results

Day 1

100m hurdles - 16.24 (12^th after the first event) - 685 points

High Jump - 1.56m (moved up to 10^th position) - 689 points

Shot Put - 9.04m (PB and moved up to 8^th position) - 467 points 

200m - 27.31s (fell back to 10^th position) - 686 points

Day 1 score - 2760 points 

Day 2

Long Jump - 5.07m (remained in 10^th position) - 686 points

Javelin - 27.18m (moved up to 9^th position) - 423 points

800m - 2m 30.86s (moved up to 7^th position)  - 682 points

Final Result - 7^th position with 4210 points - 25 athletes took part in the Heptathlon

Brooklyn's Results 

Day 1

100m - 12.47s (27^th overall after the first event) - 562 points

Long Jump - 5.86m (moved up to 26^th position) - 556 points

Shot Put - 10.12m ((moved up to 21^st position overall) - 493 points

High Jump - 1.80m not out!(this event was curtailed due to the electric storm overhead and removed from the results)

400m - this event was cancelled due to the track being flooded and lightning around the stadium)

Day 1 score - 1611 points

Day 2

110m hurdles - 17.01s (remained in 21^st position) -m 623 points

Discus - 30.95m (moved up to 19^th position) - 483 points

Pole Vault - 3.00m (remained in 19^th position - 357 points

Javelin - (no points due to shoulder injury and dropped down to 21^st position

1500m - 5m 51.24s (remained in 21^st position)

Final Result - 21^st position with 3375 points - 33 athletes took part in the Decathlon