Reading ACs combined events specialist Sammy Ball managed to earn himself four medals at the England Athletics Championships in Manchester on 7th and 8th August.

The U17 athlete had entered into four events across the two days: high jump and shot put on Saturday and Long Jump and 100m hurdles on the Sunday.

During a wet high jump competition Sammy managed to clear the bar at 1.85m but struggled with the weather conditions to get closer to his 1.90m personal best. It was good enough, however, to secure the bronze medal.

Later that day in the shot put Sammy managed a 15.55m throw, a 1 cm personal best, and more importantly a bronze medal, eight centimetres ahead of Peterborough and Nene Valley’s Donovan Capes.

Sunday morning started with the long jump where although down on this year’s club record performance’s Sammy managed to leap 6.75 metres to secure the silver medal losing by 15 centimetres to WSEHs James Taylor.

The final event was the sprint hurdles which Sammy went into the final as the fastest qualifier. The final was won by Havering’s and UK number one Jacob Blanc with Sammy finishing in silver medal position managing 13.45 seconds, a quarter second down on his personal best.

Overall, a good weekend.

Please see a link below to Sammy’s YouTube video.