Sussex’s leading young athletes will be setting off for the English Schools' Track & Field Championships, and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Celebrating its centenary year of ESAA means the championships, often dubbed the “kids Olympics”, will set the scene for a special competition.
Seventy athletes ranging from juniors through to inters and on to seniors will set off for Birmingham at lunchtime on Thursday for the event taking place on Friday and Saturday.
Some will be medallists from last year hoping to continue their success at the competition.
One these is defending hammer champion, Alice Howie, who will be aiming for her fourth title in a row, whilst last year’s junior girl silver medallist, Isabella Buchanan will be aiming for the top spot.
Other medallists last year who will be aiming for top spots again include junior boy Archie Oates in the discus, inter boy George Gilbert in the 1500m, senior boy Barney Hastings in the javelin and senior girl Stephanie Shaw in the 1500m.
For some young hopefuls, it will be their first experience at these championships.
These include junior girl pole vaulter Florence Matten, who is currently ranked 2nd in the UK. Florence will be joined by several other highly ranked Sussex vaulters Sylvie Ward (junior girl), Milo Hilborne, Luca Mindel and Bill Scott (all junior boys) as well as Ava Hayes (inter girl).
Inter girl Jaiten Best, currently ranked 2nd in the UK, will also be looking for a medal in the triple jump.
Steeplechase is a discipline on the up in the county which is proven with seven of the 70 athletes in the team competing in the event this weekend.
This year the county is boasting sending 3 sets of siblings in the team with the Bliss sisters, Sophie (inter girl) and Jess (senior girl), twins Thomas and Freddie Matthews as well as Mia (junior girl) and Angelina Diacci (inter girl).
Every year the championships, on the Saturday afternoon, includes a parade of the teams. This year’s athletes will be joined by champions of the past.
The ESAA Track & Field Champs brings together the best athletes from across the country. It is a great achievement to be selected to compete Well done to all that have been and good luck over the weekend.