East Anglia Combined Events: win for Natasha

Two Woodettes braved the heat in sun drenched Boston last weekend, competing for Essex Schools. On day two of the event, held in Boston, Lincolnshire, not only did they have to compete in temperatures close to 90 degrees, they also had to face a strong headwind during track events.

In the Junior Girls Pentathlon, Natasha Wynn was representing Essex. She had to face Mia Squires from Norfolk, who is possibly one the favourites to annex the English Schools title later this summer.

Natasha started off with 12.0secs for the 75 metres hurdles, which was a PB. She followed it with another PB of 7.08m in the Shot Put. Next up, after a long delay, was the High Jump which saw her jump 1.50m, just below her PB. At this stage Natasha was lying 4th, with the leader, Squires, out in the lead. Mia slightly extended her lead over Natasha despite a valiant 4.79m long jump.

So with one event to go Natasha was around 230 points down on Mia Squires, but the 800m went the right way for her, as she overcame the deficit to finish up over 100 points clear of the Norfolk athlete. A fine achievement in only her second pentathlon! Natasha goes to Bedford in September for the English Schools Combined Events Championships looking for a top four placing and her first International vest.

Rebecca Wright was competing in the Inter Girls Heptathlon after winning the Essex Schools in May. She clocked 12:00secs in the 80m Hurdles, got over 1.36m in the High Jump and followed this up with a fine Shot Put of 12.30m. To end the day, she faced a strong headwind for the 200m, which she covered in 26.30secs.

On the 2nd day Rebecca started with a fine Long Jump of 5.20m (a PB), before a Javelin throw of 28.40m. As was the case with Natasha's pentathlon, this heptathlon was rounded off by the 800m. Rebecca ran really well for 2mins 42secs to end up with 3rd place. A fine effort, given that Rebecca is a bottom year Under 17 athlete. She scored 4330 points behind two other Essex athletes (both top year).

Rebecca will join Natasha at Bedford, and we now wish both girls the very best as Natasha contests the 800m and Rebecca the 80m hurdles in this weekend's All England Schools at the Commonwealth Stadium.