English Schools Combined Events

Rebecca Wright was selected to represent Essex Schools in the English Schools Combined Events at a windswept Bedford arena. As far as the Junior and Inter events go, the top four would go on and represent England at the Home Countries International at Glasgow on the 26th November.

The first two events for the junior girls just happened to be Rebecca’s best events. The 75 metres saw her place first overall in 11.45 secs, giving her the perfect start. Next up the Shot Putt and, although Rebecca placed first overall again, her 11.60 metres was slightly down on what she was hoping for. Nevertheless it gave Rebecca a 119 point lead overall ahead of Norfolk's Mia Squires, who lay second. Next up the high jump and, with the wind blowing across the track, it did not make it ideal for high jumping at all. This is not Rebecca’s best event but she got over 1.38 metres which left her in 3rd place overall. We were now getting to the business end of the day's competition. In blustery winds the next event was the long jump, this time with a tailwind behind the jumpers. Rebecca jumped 4.91 metres which kept her in 3rd place. And with one event to go, the 800 metres, we were beginning to believe she could earn her first England vest. The 800 metres always seems to turn the whole competition on its head and here you had no exception. Because she was 3rd overall Rebecca was in the last race but in the race before you had two outstanding 800 runners in Estee Norman from Surrey and Ella Darby from Northampton. Both girls ran 2 mins 25. So to Rebecca’s race. The two overall leaders, Madigan from Merseyside and Wilson from Durham, battled it out to place 1st and 2nd overall with Rebecca placing 5th in 2 mins 42 secs, just outside her PB. Rebecca put in a tremendous last two hundred metres, passing three athletes.

When the final results came in Ella Darby had edged Rebecca out of bronze by just 9 points, with Estee Norman just behind in 5th place. An example of what the 800 metres can do saw Norfolk’s Mia Squires in 5th place before it, but shunted back to 12th after. It was good to see Rebecca and Mia chatting happily afterwards.

So it saw Rebecca gain her first England vest after a long day of competition in not ideal conditions. Must congratulate Rebecca on this, as well as all the other athletes who took part.

Rebecca now has a two week break before her coaches start preparing her for the International in Glasgow later this year.