The rain clouds over Brighton did not dampen the spirit or performances of the 270 athletes who took part in the Sussex Under-13 and Under-11 QuadKids Championships on Sunday. In a day of exciting competition there were five championship best performances on the track and two on the field.
One of the day’s highlights came from Crawley’s Elliot Hanslow, who had already won the 100m final in 13.18s from Brighton’s Noah Mason (13.26s), before he lined up for the 75m hurdles final. Initially stride-for-stride with his club mate James Templar-Earl, Hanslow moved into another gear, pulled away and won the race in 12.20s to Templar-Earl’s 12.95s. It was a Championship Best Performance (CBP) and also equalled the Sussex record. The time moves Hanslow to number three on the UK rankings this season. He also later came second in the shot put.
Last year we had the inaugural 100m, 200m and 1500m races. In 2018 Dulcie Yelling won the 1500m and on Sunday returned to successfully defend her title and reduce her own CBP with a 5:05.54 run. Yelling also took the javelin title for the second year in a row with a second CBP of 37.97m.
Phoenix’s Joseph Campbell dominated the 200m, setting a CBP in the heat, which he then broke in the final with a time of 26.34s, ahead of 100m silver medallist Mason who ran 27.79s. Later in the day Campbell returned to win the long jump with a leap of 4.74m from Crawley’s Ali Moghul (4.67m). Moghul went on to deliver a four metre personal best for gold in the javelin with a distance of 39.70m, which was also a CBP and takes him to number three in the UK rankings.
Prior to Sunday, in the 100m, only one Sussex under-13 girl had run sub-14 seconds this season. In the final, four achieved this standard, with Brighton’s Ruby Adeyemi triumphing. Adeyemi first ran a CBP in her heat and followed this up when it mattered to take the title and set another CBP of 13.26s, just ahead of silver medallist Rosie Kornevall (LEW) who ran a PB of 13.49s. Bronze medallist Erin Yeats (CRA) equalled last year’s winning time of 13.65s.
In the 200m Kornevall turned the tables on Adeyemi and fighting down the home straight, took the win in an excellent CBP of 27.51s from Adeyemi’s 27.65s.
Horsham’s Kyla Ball was a top performer and double champion with victories in the high jump and long jump - 1.42m and 4.64m respectively. The long jump became a battle between Ball and Brighton's Frankie D'Cruz, who had entered the competition as Sussex rankings leader. Ball prevailed but D'Cruz achieved a PB of 4.59m for silver.
Worthing's Emma Finlay was the high jump silver medallist behind Ball and her 1.40m was an eight centimetres personal best. Likewise Brighton's Libby Russell claimed bronze with 1.35m - a five centimetres improvement. Russell also won a silver medal in the discus with a throw of 22.68m behind Worthing’s Rebecca Roberts who won the title with a fabulous 80 centimetres PB of 23.41m.
The boys 1500m race was very exciting with four athletes still in the mix with 150 metres to go. In the end it was Lewes AC’s Barney Hastings who was victorious in 4:48.33, followed home by Brighton’s Tom Matthews in 4:51.47 and his club mate Jude Clayton in 4:52.99.
Crawley’s Carys Leyshon won the girls 70mH in a swift 11.55s from D’Cruz (11.81s). Leyshon's time takes her to equal fifth in the UK rankings. The strong all-rounder also won the shot title, with a put of 8.41m. Her club mate Will Thurston took the boys title with 11.65m.
The under-13 boys 800m race was timed heats and in the second race Chichester Runners Joshua Dunne and Haywards Heath Harrier Arun Khursheed were closely matched for most of the race until Dunne pulled away in the last 120 metres to win in 2:20.00 to Khursheed’s 2:22.02.
Eastbourne Rovers Isabelle Chappell won the girls 800 in 2:29.69 from Stephanie Shaw of Crawley and Brighton’s Pearl Pennington.
In the final races of the day Crawley won the girls relay and Brighton Phoenix the boys.
The Meeting Manager Kate Matthews is presently selecting the Sussex team for the Southern Under 13 Inter-Counties fixture on Saturday 27th July. The event at Kingsmeadow brings together the best young athletes from across the region for a day of high level competition.
QuadKids Under-11 Championships
For the first time the QuadKids girls top spot was tied, so two gold medals were presented to Brighton’s Julieanna Walsh and Crawley’s Jennifer Klein. Both girls scored 227 point, with Jennifer’s club mate, Francesca Rogers, in third with 209.
In the boys competition Hayward’s Heath’s Oscar Dalgleish was a clear winner with 265 points ahead of Archer Pilkington (Brighton ) on 245 and Phoenix’s Lewis Wilby on 240.
Wheelchair open
Sussex AA was delighted to host wheelchair races over 100m and 200m this year. Five athletes took part: Lizzie Williams, Lucy King, Beccy Duffy, Charlotte Keane and Luis Coward – all of whom are members of Worthing and District Harriers. Lizzie won both races in times of 20.50s and 37.38s.
View the full Championships results HERE.
Thank You
Sussex AA thanks all the volunteers, officials and helpers, team managers and coaches, without whom this meeting could not have taken place.
It was great to welcome Luke from Just Timing, once again, who ensured athletes times were captured and flashed onto the results board within seconds of them crossing the line.