Wakefield Harriers duo triumph in Northern Indoor Athletics Championships
Two of Wakefield Harriers’ U13 athletes competed at the combined U13 and U15 Northern Indoor Championships, which were held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Timothy Akintolu competed over three events during the day, finishing fourth in the 60 metre sprint final in a good time of 8.79 and winning the long jump with a fantastic effort of 4.61m.
This would not be the highlight of the day, however, as he also went on to take first place in the high jump, clearing the bar at 1.50m and not only setting a personal best but a new championship record.
Matilda Shaw also competed over three events. She was fifth in the long jump with 4.02m, in the 60m final she finished sixth in 8.96 and in the 200m not only did she set a new personal best in her heat with 28.65 she followed that winning the final in 28.68.
Harriers had several runners representing their districts at the annual West Yorkshire Schools Cross Country Championships in Leeds.
There were some excellent performances in the event at Leeds Grammar School, with six athletes being selected for West Yorkshire to run at the forthcoming English Schools Championships at Sefton Park, Liverpool on March 14.
Senior girls Rosie Thistlewood and Sylvie Ellis both enjoyed good runs, finishing in second and seventh place respectively to secure selection for the West Yorkshire team.
Isabella Tutt continued her fine form, winning the intermediate girls title comfortably with Layla Ford doing well to finish in 34th place overall.
Wakefield’s junior boys were out in force with eight making the start line.
Thomas Hastings was first home to add the junior boys title to his recent successes and was backed up by Sydney Swan in fourth, Daniel Jones seventh, Will Thornton ninth, Henry McFarlane 16th, Harry Tolson 19th, Harry Beck 40th and Lochlan Ruddock 44th.
In the year seven girls race Erin Mallet had a good run to finish in 16th place out of the 54 starters.
The six Wakefield Harriers to be selected to run in Liverpool against the best athletes from each of the 46 counties in England are: Senior girls, Rosie Thistlewood and Sylvie Ellis; intermediate girls, Isabella Tutt; junior boys, Thomas Hastings, Sydney Swan and Daniel Jones.
The top six in each of their races in Liverpool will go on to run for England in the SIAB International, Bangor North Wales, against the top six athletes from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.