Sussex Schools took one of its smallest teams in recent years to Bedford for the finals of the English Schools Combined Events and Race Walking Championships.
The best Sussex performance of the weekend was by race walker Eva Payton-White who won the battle for the bronze medal in the senior girls 5000m, in a personal best of 30:22.81. Unfortunately, in the senior boys race, Oli Hopkins (Sussex Downs), while chasing Hampshire’s Chris Snook, pushed a little too much and was disqualified.
The best placing in the Combined Events came in the junior girls pentathlon where high jumper Isabelle Humphreys (Christ Hospital), who has had a good season, filled 14th place with 2856 points having clocked 12.11s for the hurdles, putt the shot 9.42m, high jumped 1.53m, long jumped 4.85m and clocked 2:43.97s for the 800 metres.
After an excellent Long Jump season, the highlight of which was winning the English Schools junior girls title in July, Cleo Tomlinson (Weald) seemed tired and finished 25th with 12.38s, 8.57m, 1.47m, 5.16s and 2:49.05 to score 2732 points.
In the senior boys decathlon Liam Hennessey (Hailsham) did well to place 21st with 4360 points despite failing to clear a height in the pole vault. Collyers April Hanslow was en route to a personal best score but did not finish the 800m and ended the day 25th in the senior girls heptathlon with 2738 points.
If you have any queries or want more information regarding this post, please Email Reg Hook.