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Silver for Lucy at the AAA's

Lucy McLoughlin in the 800m

Lucy McLoughlin (far right) in the 800 metre heats of the AAA's Championships

Lucy McLoughlin won the 800 metre silver medal after three hard races over two days at the AAA's under-15/17 Championships at the weekend at Alexandra Stadium, Birmingham.

Fresh from her outstanding run at Crystal Palace in the 800 metres the week before at the British Milers Club final where she had recorded a new personal best of 2.12.9, to come third in the open age category only being beaten by two sixteen year olds.

Lucy, who is the reigning English schools 1,500 metre champion, had two tough qualifying rounds where each time she faced rival Jess Hicks the number one ranked 800 metre runner.

In the first round Lucy and Hicks went neck and neck to the finish, neither athlete wanting to give each the physiological edge, both qualified easy.

Both were surprised to find that they had both been put into the same semi final which was a repeat run of the heat as both athletes crossed the line together.

In the final which went through the first 200 metres in 28 seconds, Lucy was back in 6th at the bell as Hicks and the Irish 800 metre champion Corrin Cronin battled it out at the front.

At this stage it looked as though Lucy's medal hopes had gone, until 300 metres to go went Lucy began her move up, right until the final few strides to the line passing the fading Hicks and Leah Lennon to snatch silver.

Ireland's Cronin had kept up the pace to win easily in 2.11 with Lucy 2nd in 2.14.

Coach David Turnbull said "Everybody thought Lucy had blown her chance of a medal but the 800 metres can do devastating things to your body in the last 200 metres if you go off to fast.

Lucy capatilised on that and didn't give up her last 300 metres was around 47 seconds she took the race right to the line.

After the race Lucy had said her legs felt dead at the first 200 metres and wasn't able to respond to the initial fast pace, that is something for us both to think about over the winter."

Ross Millington was another finalist in a tactical 1,500 metre final the racing got underway with about 500 metres to go after an initial slow start.

Ross was off the pace at the bell when Jordan West Patrick Hambley and English schools winner Gary Bradbury forged ahead.

Ross got back into the race with a fast finish out-kicking David Forester of St Helens for the first time this year to finish 5th. The race went to 800 metre specialist Jordon West who must have been pleased with the slow early pace allowing him to use his fast finish to just pip Bradbury.

Jess Coulson found herself in the best domestic field assembled for some years in this age group all the top three girls Emily Pidgeon, Sian Edwards, Non Stanford and Scottish champion Siobahn Coleman plus English schools runner up in the 1,500 metres Stevie Stockton started.

Right from the start the race of 16 athletes broke down into two races the internationals of 6 including Jess and the domestic field who were not even thinking of going with the pace.

Jess was hanging on the back of the first 5 runners with the gap staying the same until World Cross representative Emily Pidgeon, who is the fastest 3k runner in Europe this year at under-17 level, put her foot down with 600 metres to go and only Sian Edwards managed to stay with Pidgeon who won in 9.38 from Edwards and Stanford third, Jess was clear in 6th at the finish.

Personal bests at Bebington in the Cheshire League

Gorgina Wilkins wins the High Jump

Gorgina Wilkins wins the High Jump with 1.42 metres in her first try at the event

A small number of Stockport Harriers made the trip to Bebington for the Cheshire Track and Field League but again there was a good number of personal bests from all the age groups.

In the under-15 girls two athletes out did themselves, Michele Wiblin in the 1,500 metres made a strong break with two laps left and came away with a good win in a time of 5.03, while in the High Jump Gorgina Wilkins, in her first try at the event, out jumped everyone to win the event with a height of 1.42 metres.

In the under-11 boys', Richard Hindley again took the honors in the 600 metres with a time of 1.50 and also won the Long Jump with 3.24 metres.

The relays turned out to be close affair, in the under-11 girls' 4 x 100 metres, on the last leg a great run by Hannah Wilkins brought the team back and just missed out in a close finish with the East Cheshire team and in the under-15 girls' relay the team stormed around to take the win just on the line from West Cheshire AC.

In the senior men's shot-putt dad Neil Wilkins not to be out done, came though to take 2nd place with a putt of 7.67 metres.

The women finished second behind East Cheshire Harriers, while the men's team finished third and in the under-11s had to settle for second place just behind East Cheshire.

Club Track and Field Championships

The Club Track and Field Championships are being held on Wednesday and Thursday, 7-8th September starting at 6.30pm.

We are looking to cover all age groups from under-9 boys' and girls to senior men and ladies and add a few races for the parents, we are going to cover sprints/middle distance and field so support from as many club members as possible will be welcomed.

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