Seventy of Sussex's leading young athletes have set off for Birmingham for the English Schools' Track & Field Championships on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th of July.
With next week's European under-18 Championships taking out some of the leading steeplechase medal contenders, including Inter Girl Ava James and Senior Girl Rae Le Fay, the team is still full of anticipation.
Defending inter girl hammer champion, Alice Howie, will hope to take another title whilst last year’s senior boy 1500m silver medallist Alexander Riley will be aiming for better, despite just coming back from injury.
Other medallists last year include Miles Waterworth (senior boy) who will be changing events from the 800m to the 3K and javelin thrower Dulcie Yelling who moves up to the senior girls category.
Ranked number 1 in the UK, George Gilbert, is one to watch in the junior boys’ 1500m, as is Braimoh Busari in the inter boys’ pole vault.
Eleanor Strevens, currently ranked 4th, will be vying for one of the top spots in the senior girls’ 800m whilst Nathan Burge is ranked 5th going in to the junior boys 300m competition.
Despite Ava James’ absence in the inter girls’ 1500m steeplechase the county will be sending 2 other top ranked athletes with Alice Cox and Julieana Walsh.
The county is also boasting 2 sets of siblings in the team with the Bliss sisters, Sophie (junior girl) aiming for a medal in the javelin, and Jess (senior girl) in the 100m hurdles, whilst twins Thomas and Freddie Matthews will both be competing in the inter boys’ 1500m steeplechase.
Inter girl Isabella Akpoveta is coming back from injury to compete in the 100m and ranked 5th could medal, as could inter boy javelin throwers, Barney Hastings and Harry Long.
The English Schools Track & Field Championships bring together the strongest young athletes from across the country. It is an amazing achievement to be selected to compete.
Well done and Good luck to all competing.