A few Reading AC athletes have been in action at the England Athletics Senior and U20 combined events championships, and BMC track races, in Sheffield on 8 & 9 January 2022.

In his first year as an U20, Sammy Ball (Coach: Mike Dyer) managed to break the English indoor heptathlon record by 92 points scoring 5,602 points and placing him third on the UK all-time list. In a high-powered competition the winning athlete, Scotland’s Murray Fotheringham in his final year in the age group, attained the Scottish record and second place on the UK all-time list.

On the track Sammy improved his 60m PB to 7.07 secs and his 1,000m PB to 2.43.88. Meanwhile, on the field he set a 5cm PB in the high jump with a 2.00m leap and a 33cm PB in the pole vault (3.93m). In his first competition using the 6kg shot, he was the best combined eventer on display by a long way with 15.06m. In the other events Sammy’s performances were not far off his PBs in the long jump (7.01m) and 60m hurdles (8.32).

With twenty-three months left in the age group category Sammy should have ample time to attempt to attain the current UK record of 5,793 points.

Joe Frew was also in action in the U20 heptathlon finishing in 14th place (4,145 points). Joe had a consistent couple of days and was close to his best in the majority of events; 60m (7.35 secs), high jump (1.70m), long jump (5.99m), shot (8.46m), pole vault (3.13m), 60m hurdles (9.01 secs) and 1000m (2.53.62)

Kevin Cranmer was in action in the senior men’s heptathlon finishing in 17th place overall with 3,445 points. Kevin was just outside his PB in the 60m (8.11 secs) and the M40 athlete had a solid couple of days with performances in the long jump (5.14m), shot (9.98m), high jump (1.61m), 60m hurdles (9.86 secs), pole vault (3.23m) and 1000m (3.09.0).

Hollie Cranmer was taking part in her first U20 pentathlon competition where a PB in the shot (6.42m) and a 1 cm jump below her high jump best (1.37m) saw her record 1841 points to finish in 20th place overall.

In a mixed age group 1,500m BMC A final Lauren Church was 7th in 4.36.0 and in the B final race there was a win for Abi Hancock with a new PB (4.35.09) just ahead of Emma Howsham (4.35.13).

Well done athletes and coaches!

Sammy Ball’s YouTube Channel