Top Gun Harrison feeling the need for speed
Last weekend saw the Northern area outdoor championships at Sport City, Manchester. With spectacular lack of forethought and planning Coldplay and Elton John both decided to put gigs on that clashed with ours. To complete the travel and parking carnage Man City and Man Utd were playing the FA Cup final at Wembley; at least their fans didn’t have far to travel.
Saturday was a day for sprinting … and medals. Jared Nicholls, home from Cardiff University, had a solid run in the 400m but couldn’t quite make it through the heats. However James Read and Harrison May-Joynson progressed to the final with both recording personal bests. Harrison broke through 50s, the mark of a quality quarter-miler, with 49.65s. The way he steamed down the home straight suggesting that another 10m and his silver would’ve been gold ! One has to be reminded that this young man is still only a first year under 20.
Dan Evans was close to his best in the senior 100m heats, but couldn’t get through. Katelyn Swift was unlucky in the junior ladies version to find herself up against a 3.7m/s headwind ! She would more than make amends later with a bronze from the discus. Amy Thompson started her weekend with a win in the discus and followed it with the same in the shot the next day, although, to be honest, they were modest distances by her high standards.
The highlight of the first days action was the 5,000m which saw both Se Loughlin and Ross Harrison come away with big PB’s, the latter coupling it with a silver medal from a race that reportedly had an insane 54 second last lap !
Sunday had Dan and Jared back for the longer 200m sprint but, unfortunately, neither managed to get to their age-group final in one of of the better entered, and tougher events. Similarly Callum Jefferies couldn’t get through the 800m heats despite a personal best. Sometimes there’s an element of “luck of the draw” on how many enter your event and who you get drawn with.
Katelyn Swift, with a seemingly insatiable appetite for these championships, was back for top 8 finishes in the under 20 shot and discus. Super-mum Nicola joined her other daughter Beth in the discus to complete the family experience.
The highlight of day 2 was a silver double for Anna Peers firstly in the senior discus (from a field of 15 !) and then twinned it with the javelin; and event she was leading until the last round.
So, by my reckoning, that’s 2 golds, 4 silvers and a bronze – a fair haul.
There are videos of some events on our YouTube Channel – Liverpool Pembroke And Sefton Harriers – YouTube including one of Amy Thompson, below, with one of her winning discus throws.