On a weekend when over 24 hours the weather switched from summer to winter, performances were strong at the Sussex County Track and Field Championships.
The Saturday at the K2, Crawley, saw temperatures sore with blistering performances in the under 16 boys’ pole vault, the under 18 men’s 400m and the under 16 girls’ 300m hurdles.
This was followed by continuous rain, wind and chilly conditions on the Sunday, but thankfully standards remained high.
With it being the first championship since the England Athletics age group changes, it was only under 20 and senior championship best performances that could be broken, and there was only two of these.
Brighton & Hove AC’s Scarlet Margoroli not only broke the senior women's triple jump record leaping 11.55m, she also took gold in the 200m and silver in the long jump.
Fellow club member, u20 Dulcie Yelling, also broke a CBP throwing a 45.96m javelin and breaking Samantha Redd’s 2001 record 44.59m. 
Others came close to records including (u20m) Louis Opoku (Brighton & Hove) with a 59.04m javelin, a distance that currently ranks him 3rd in the UK.
Worthing’s Alice Howie (under 20) has won gold in the hammer every year since she started competing in the Sussex Champs, and this year was no exception, throwing 56.70m, making her the one to watch in the UK at the moment.
Sonny Ryder’s 55.90 400mH time puts him 7th on the u20 UK ranking list, whilst his Brighton & Hove teammate Freddie Matthews places 5th after winning the 5K gold in 14.55.12.
Two of the first events of the weekend were the under 16 boys’ pole vault and the under 16 girls’ 300mH.
Crawley’s Milo Hilborne smashed his outdoor pole vault record leaping 4.26m and putting him firmly at the top in the UK.
Whilst on the track it was a close call between under 16s Florence Matten and Seren Rowe (both Brighton & Hove) with Matten clocking 45.46 and Rowe 45.52.
Both talents went on to scoop further medals.
Matten, in her main event, taking gold and jumping an astonishing 3.70m pole vault, whilst Rowe scooped four additional individual medals – golds in 80mH (12.62), shot put (9.53m) and high jump (1.60m). 
Pole vault is undoubtedly one of the county’s strongest events – something proven by UK U20 women’s number 1 Ava Hayes (Lewes) leaping 3.80m in the U18 women’s contest. In the same competition, Alice Johnston won silver and jumped 3.40m putting her 6th on the list.
One of the closest races of the weekend was the under 16 boys’ 300m final where the top three were all from the same club (Brighton & Hove) and all clocked under 37 seconds.
Louis Ashworth took gold in 36.38, Thomas Campbell silver in 36.45 and Felix Fowler bronze (36.62).
Chichester’s Isla Pearson ran and 41.63 in the girls’ race. She had already won gold in the 200m (25.51).
There was some fine sprinting across both days with Eastbourne’s Jesse Onyekachukwu Ogonedum winning the U16 boys’ 100m (11.91) and Tayan Mutagaya (Crawley) winning both the U18 men’s 100m in 10.91 and 200m in 23.36.
Honest Takudzwa Chinengundu (Eastbourne) took golds in the under 18 age category – 10.84 in the 100m and 22.45 in the 200m.
Very notable was Herbie Bellfield (Lewes), who won overall gold in the under 14 Minithon. His performance included a superb 11.91 in the 100m, which ranks him fifth in the UK. He also won both the shot put and long jump elements of the combined event.
Jaiten Best (Brighton & Hove) won a total of four medals this year with silvers in the 100m and hammer, and golds in the long jump and her main event - the under 18 women’s triple jump. No PB but still an impressive 12.28m.
Training partner, Klara Novak-Wightman, took the U16 girls’ title with 11.32.
Archie Oates (Crawley) did a throws double with golds in the under 16 boys’ shot put (15.34) and discus (49.62), whilst under 16 girl, Piper Kelly, threw a 46.79 hammer for her win.
Over on the track, off the back of an exceptional winter cross-country season, Taylor Thom Watts (Brighton & Hove), comfortably won the u16 boys’ 1500m in a time of 4.10.42.
Under 20 Henry Baker (Brighton & Hove) won the 1500m on the Saturday (3.54.71) and the 800m on the Sunday (1.56.52).
This accomplishment was matched by U16 Isabella Buchanan (HYAC) clocking 4.37.21 and 2.15.84 respectively.
One of the most exciting races of the whole weekend was the U18 men’s 400m final where George Gilbert (Brighton & Hove) stormed to the line in 48.73. Gilbert went on to win the 800m on the Sunday.
The championship only takes place thanks to the officials and volunteers who put in endless hours of their time.
Thank you also to the sponsors (listed below) who kindly donated money, vouchers and kit as a gesture reward to some events and age groups.
- Chris Carter
- The Bristow Brother
- Amber Anning
- Tim Hutchings
- Power of 10
- The Focus Group
- HYAC
- Eastbourne Runs
- Performance Canteen
- Neuff Athletic
- Forte Sports
- The Endurance Project
- Signature Carpets
Photo Creds to Sophie Hogton - full photos here
Sophie is trying to raise fund to take part in an international competition. Donate via https://gofund.me/67f12f139