Well done to all Reading AC athletes who competed for their county schools (Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire) at the English Schools Athletics Championships at Sportcity, Manchester from 9-11 July 2021. Overall there were several personal bests, invaluable experience, two golds, one silver and two bronze medals for their counties.

In the senior boys and girls (U19), four Reading AC U19 athletes were in action. Reuben Henry-Daire qualified for the 400m final winning his heat in 48.08 secs clinching the gold medal in an exciting final and setting a new PB and Reading AC U20 club record of 47.71 secs. What a great send off for his trip to Estonia next week for the European U20 championships. Emily Scrivener won an excellent bronze medal in the pole vault with 3.50m. A great result considering that she has only had 2 weeks training following her return from a broken foot. Mia Waldmann finished a fine 5th place in the 3000m knocking a massive 6 seconds off her PB. Her time of 9.47.91 secs was a new Reading AC U20 club record. In the javelin Lucy Odell finished in 13th place with 33.39m.

In the intermediate boys and girls (U17) Sammy Ball secured gold in the long jump with 7.10m to consolidate his number one position in the age group so far in 2021. Hagen Mzee won the silver medal in an exciting 100m A final. His time of 10.95 secs equaled that of the gold medalist and they could only be separated by the photofinish. Both Sammy and Hagen now qualify to compete for England at a schools international fixture in Derby on 25 September. Well done. In the pole vault Charlie Orbell at his first championships finished ninth with a 3.20m vault. Meanwhile, in the girls pole vault, Ruby Harris vaulted 3.00m for eleventh place. Mia Greenidge-Knell finished in 6th in the shot with a best of 12.26m, Finley Hanham, a first year athlete in the age group, was 7th in a close hammer competition with a throw of 46.97m and Amelia Walsh was 7th in the 80m Hurdles A final setting a new PB of 11.66 secs. Kaya Slater ran 12.66 secs in the 100m heats though had to retire from her second race due to a niggling injury.

In the junior boys and girls (U15) Reuben Anthony-Deyemo sprinted to a bronze medal in the 100m in a new PB of 11.29 secs. Kahlon Nneke ran a new PB of 12.07 secs in his heat of the 80m Hurdles, a significant improvement on his previous best, and he proved victorious in the B final with 12.10 secs. Aaron Lamb set a new PB of 38.17 secs in the 300m to place equal 5th. Lexie Thompson ran 12.92 secs in her 100m heat, and improved to 12.91 secs in the B final. Charlotte Bigmore (5m) and Owen Ho Wang Chan (5.54m) both placed 9th place in their respective long jump finals. In the 75m hurdles, Tomi Adejuwon unfortunately injured herself at the first hurdle so was unable to complete the race. It showed great character and courage to step onto the start line following a recent injury, and we wish her a speedy recovery. Chloe Huskinson was selected to compete in the pole vault although at time of writing the results were not available.