Hurdler turns claims top prize at English Schools Championships

ATHLETICS: ALICIA Tymon-McEwan produced the performance of her life on the way to scooping gold at the English Schools Athletics championships in Birmingham.

The St Albans AC sprint hurdler and Haberdashers pupil went into the prestigious championships rated number one in the country in the Junior 75m hurdles but showed no signs of being dragged down by the massive expectations.

That led to a qualification time in her heat of 11.06secs, the 10th fastest ever in the age group and 0.18secs better than her previous PB.

Hitting two barriers in the final meant Tymon-McEwan was unable to match that time but she still came through strongly to win in 11.18secs from Surrey’s Shirin Irving and Keeleigh Chapman from Wiltshire.

Tymon-McEwan was one of nine St Albans AC representatives at the Alexander Stadium.

James McMurray made the final of the Inter 1500m and Megan Steer the semis of the Inter 800m.

Personal bests of 37.45m in the Inter javelin for Abi Wilde and 29.57m for Kelly Wright in the Junior discus were enough for both competitors to claim ninth place in their respective events, Carl Palin made the semi-fiinal of the inter 400m despite being hampered by a foot injury which inevitably hindered his performance.

Also representing the club were Jake Awe (Inter 200m), Christian Gaddes (Inter 100m hurdles) and Tom O’Callagan (Junior triple jump).

Twenty four hours later, the club finished second to hosts Bedford in their latest Eastern Young Athletes meeting.

Top performances here came from Alix Smith, who extended her club record for the U17 Girls hammer.

There were also new PBs for Molly Baillie (14.0secs) in the U13 100m, Cate Brooks (4.26m) in the U13 long jump, Emma Clarke (4.52m) in the U15 Long jump, Laura Dewar in the U13 75m hurdles and Luke Yaxley (23.4secs) in the U17 200m.