U20 AND SENIOR SOUTHERN INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS REPORT

Several Woodford athletes competed in the Southern Indoor championships over the weekend of the 4th and 5th of February, bringing many fine performances, several medals and a Southern title for Mary Elcock.

Mary spearheaded the way for an outstanding show in the women’s triple jump for Woodford – winning with a SB distance of 12.56m. She was ably backed up by Shanara Hibbert, who still making her way back from serious injury claimed the silver with an equal season’s best of 12.39m, and Denesha Rocasle, who finished in 5th with a new PB of 11.91m (only 3cm away from 4th.) Amelia MacDonald also jumped, opening her season with a long jump of 5.23m to finish 7th. Kharina Partridge took part in the U20W triple jump, with a performance of 10.61m to finish 9th, and Jessica Gordon unfortunately did not register a jump in the HJ.

In the senior men’s field, Lawrence Davies led the line with two excellent medals – opening his triple jump season with 14.93m for silver and adding a bronze in the long jump with a new PB of 7.00m. Hugh Williams, competing in his first SEAA Indoors since 2015, won bronze in the shot put with a throw of 12m exactly (repeating his position of eight years prior.) On the track, Nathan Yao finished 5th in his SM 200m heat with a time of 24.15s and Ashleigh Simmons ran in the U20W 60m, finishing 4th in her heat with a time of 8.07s (only 0.07s off her PB.) Jasmine Mitchell finished 3rd in her senior women’s 400m heat with a time of 57.85s to qualify for the semi-finals. She went on to narrowly miss out on progression to the final with a time of 57.58s in the semis.

Many good performances early in the season hopefully bodes well with the British National Championships and BUCS Indoor championships coming soon.