A strong Sussex Schools team headed north early Thursday morning for the English Schools Championships at Gateshead but they were without the presence of two assured medal winners.
Sprinter Toby Harries (Brighton College) had been selected to compete in the World Youth championships later this month and at virtually the last minute Spencer Thomas (Plumpton College) was added to the British team for the European Junior championships in Sweden next week.
Joining Thomas in Sweden is fellow Brighton Phoenix athlete Robbie Fitzgibbon who was the only Sussex Schools gold medallist last year when he won the senior 1500m title.
Archie Davis (Patcham) who will be running for the England team at the Commonwealth Games Championships in September will be racing at Gateshead but over the Intermediate (U17) 800m instead of 1,500m but he is expected to battle for a medal while another Commonwealth Games athlete Joe Fuggle (Uplands) is also a prospect for a medal in the Intermediate 400m hurdles.
Brighton College’s Anna Short, who reached the semi finals of the UK senior 100 metres last week could also be in the hunt for a medal in the Senior (U19) in her final appearance at these school championships.
Another medal prospect is Orla Brothers (Millais) who contests the Intermediate 300m and there are always other athletes who always rise to the occasion at these championships.