The first meeting of this season’s UK Youth Development League kicked-off with the Lower Under-13 and Under-15 Age Group. Tamworth AC had a good turnout of young aspiring athletes in the wet and windy conditions at the Tipton Sports Academy.on Sports Academy.

For the Under-15 Boys, Tom Reid ran a PB of 15.3secs in the 100 metres. James Stretton ran 31.7secs in the 200 metres and Oliver Goldsworthy finished the 800 metres in a time of 2:52.7. In the 1,500 metres James Measham took 2^nd place in the A-race with 5:01.6 and James Stretton won the B-race with a time of 5:06.6.

Over in the field events, James Stretton made a jump of 3.79 metres in the Long Jump and Camron Harrison threw 19.08 metres to win the Hammer Throw.

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The Under-15 Girls were well represented across the track and field events. In the 100 metres, Charley O’Neill ran 15.1secs in the A-race and Elizabeth Felton clocked 15.3secs in the B-race. In the 200 metres, Elizabeth Felton ran 34.6secs to take 3^rd place in the A-race and Francesca Wattis clocked 32.2secs to win a closely-fought B-race. Arantxa Middleton clocked 44.7secs to win the 300 metres A-race and Lottie McLaren won the B-race with a time of 46.4secs. Lottie also won the 800 metres A-race with a time of 2:31.1, with Libbie Price winning the B-race with a run of 2:53.4. In the 1,500 metres, Tegan Vickery took 2^nd place in the A-race with 5:44.8 and Ellie Gauntlett ran 6:11.4 in the B-race. Elizabeth Felton clocked 16.7secs in the 75 metre Hurdles.

In the field events, Ruby Coldwell threw the Shot Put 6.87 metres for 3^rd place in the A-event and Tegan Vickery made 4.44 metres in the B-event. Arantxa Middleton threw the Discus 9.98 metres. In the Javelin, Ruby Spencer threw 23.72 metres to win the competition and Charley O’Neill threw 16.80 metres. Ruby Coldwell took 4^th place in the High Jump with 1.25 metres.

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For the Under-13 Boys, Jacob Williams ran 16.5secs in the 100 metres A-race and William Newman ran 20.8secs in the B-race. In the 200 metres, Ben Godber clocked 34.5secs in the A-race and William Newman ran a new PB of 37.3secs in the B-race. William also raced in the 800 metres; finishing with a time of 3:16.9. Joseph Gorst made a time of 6:03.5 in the 1,500 metres and Ben Godber clocked 15.9secs for the closet of 2^nd place finishes in the 75 metre Hurdles.

In the field, Jacob Williams won both the Long Jump with 3.64 metres and the Shot Put with a throw of 5.67 metres. Ben Godber won the High Jump with 1.27 metres.

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Annie Boonham had a good day for the Under-13 Girls; starting out with a time of 25.5secs in the 150 metres. In the 800 metres, Kirsten McLaren clocked 2:49.4 to take 3^rd place in the A-race and Annie won the B-race with a time of 2:55.9. The 1,200 metres saw two great wins; firstly from Chloe Sharman in the A-race with 4:30.6 and then Jessica Salt with 4:39.3 in the B-race.

In the Long Jump event, Annie Boonham jumped 3.61 metres for 3^rd place in the A-event. Chloe Sharman jumped 2.92 metres in the B-event and 1.10 metres for 4^th place in the High Jump.

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Finally, in the relays it was 2^nd places all round for Tamworth in the 4 x 100 metres with the Under-13 Boys (65.1secs), Under-13 Girls (61.7secs) and Under-15 Girls (57.0secs) all doing the club proud.

The Under-15 Girls stormed to victory with a 7 second lead in the 4 x 300 metres relay and a combined time of 3:13.8.

Team Manager Hayley McLaren, taking charge for the first time, reflected on the day’s performances and said “I am so proud of all our athletes who turned up and competed; especially in those cold conditions. Outstanding performances for our very first meeting of the season”

“A huge thanks to Dom and Deanna Middleton and everyone that helped out with duties for Tamworth on the day. For my first time managing the YDL team, I think it went well and I’m looking forward to the next one. Let’s get that promotion!”

The Under-17 and Under-20 team will be in YDL action next on Sunday 5^th May for the Upper Age Group match, again at Tipton. The Lower Age Group team returns on Saturday 18^th May at Leamington.