Withdean played host to the Sussex AA Steeplechase Championships with some top notch performances.
With guests from outside the county it meant competition was strong for the Friday evening fixture.
The under 20 men set off early on in the evening with a 2000m chase.
Brighton & Hove’s Freddie Matthews took the Sussex title crossing the line 5th overall in 6.05.27. The top 5 in this race all ran times within the UK top target of 6.10.
Next up was Chichester’s Ben Stewart, competing in the under 18 1500m chase for the first time ever, and what a first time he made it.
Clocking 4.22.78, Ben is now Sussex Champion, number one in the UK and well clear of the 4.30 UK top target.
The under 18 and under 20 women ran a combined race where Eastbourne’s under 18 Freda Pearce was overall winner taking the county title in a PB of 5.10.88 ranking her 4th in the UK. Alice Cox won under 20 gold and ran 5.17.44 also ranking her 4th. Under 16 Elizabeth Hutchinson (Hastings) was trying the event for the first time and running up an age group. She ran a solid 5.25.15 and placed 2nd in Sussex.
Under 20 talent Ava James opted to compete up an age group in the longer 3000m chase on the alongside Brighton & Hove club mate Lois Dooley. The athlete, who is currently ranked among the highest in the world, ran 10.11.30, outside of her PB but an amazing time.
Alongside the steeplechase races, there were open 100s, 800s and 1500s as well as some field events.
One of these was a hammer competition where Worthing’s Alice Howie (under 20) threw a PB of 58.10 – putting her number 1 in the UK and a new Sussex record.
The evening ended with some 4x 300m and 4 x 400m county championship relays where the winners were Chichester in the under 16 boys, Brighton & Hove in the under 16 girls and Lewes in the under 18 men.