UCLAN Arena, 6th May 2018 Harriers Stars of Tomorrow Shine The sun shone at the Preston Harriers Under 12’s Medal Meeting. This annual event at UCLAN Sports Arena saw 64 young Harriers competing for 96 medals in the scorching heat. The bank holiday weekend saw a smaller number of athletes competing than in previous years.
Athletes could choose 3 events from the 4 offered. The following athletes won 2 Gold medals and a silver: Anna Vavso, Isla Bamber, (both school year 3), Olivia Rankin (school year 4), Tristen Sayers-Martin (school year 3) and Jay Whiteside in school year 6. The fastest boy over 80 metres was Thomas Kelsall from year 5 (11.7s), while Lacey Hobson, also in year 5, (12.2s) was the fastest girl. The longest long jump by a girl was 3.10 metres by Olivia Caven (year 5). 3.83 metres was the greatest long jump by a boy from Jay Whiteside (year 6). Isla Bamber (year 3) recorded the longest cricket ball throw by a girl on the day (14.21 metres). A distance of 30.12 metres by Willison Parnell (year 4) was the furthest by a boy. Grace Worthington (year 5) put the shot 5.00 metres, the furthest by a girl. A put of 5.20 metres by Sam Jackson (year 5) was the best shot on the day by a boy.
The last event of the day saw athletes compete over 600 metres which saw the race amalgamate 2 school years, 3 & 4 together and 5 & 6 together. A very close race developed between Anna Vavso (year 3) and Olivia Rankin (year 4) with Anna just winning in 2.18.8 with Olivia just 0.2 seconds behind. Annabel (year 5) stormed to victory in 2.12.7 in the girls’ year 5 & 6 race. Eddie Chandler (year 4) won the 600m year 3 & 4 race in 2.05.9. The last race of the day, for school year 5 & 6 boys 600 metres saw a great battle between Hayden Ridgley (year 5) and Charlie Berry (year 6) with the lead changing hands on numerous occasion over the last 400 metres. Over the final 50 metres the sprint developed with both athletes giving everything and the pace increasing as they got closer the line with Charlie and Hayden both collapsing in a heap just past the finish line. Charlie just winning by 0.1 second in a time of 1.59.8. Both received gold as they were in different age groups.