DAC athletes qualify for Mason Trophy

Athletes from Derby Athletic Club were among those competing at the Derbyshire Schools championships on Saturday 8 June at Moorways. A big positive was the track, newly marked out and looking great. A negative was the rainy and windy weather, but despite this there were some good results and even PBs from DAC competitors.

The big prize from the day is the chance to compete at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on 15 June in the Mason Trophy; first and second placed athletes qualified.

Hannah Barnden took gold in senior women’s javelin.

Key performances from the endurance groups included a confident win in the senior women’s 1500m for Molly Hudson and victory for Alice Crane in the senior women’s 3000m with a PB of 10.31.

Jude Bush won the senior men’s 800m, Senay Guzai won the senior men’s 3000m and Valentina Costa the intermediate girls’ 800m. Some races were hotly contested despite the weather, and Ben Stevenson stood out in a strong junior boys’ 800m event, winning both his heat and the final, the day’s last race in a burst of rain, in fine style.

Also for the junior boys, Corey Rose pulled well clear of a good field to win the 1500m, while Jack Davies came third and gained a massive PB of 4.55 in the intermediate boys’ steeplechase.

Orla McGinty threw a PB of 9.37m in the intermediate girls’ shot to take silver, and Shay Tarbit won the intermediate boys’ discus, with Freddie Burton third. Patricija Nemanyte came second in the junior girls’ high jump and Danny McCrea took gold in the senior men’s long jump. Hannah Barnden took gold in the senior women’s javelin.

Shay Tarbit (gold) and Freddie Burton (bronze) in the inter boys’ discus.

In the sprints, there were golds for Florence Beedie (senior women’s 100m), Elliot Archibald (senior men’s 100m), Lauren Blakey (senior women’s 200m) and Angelica Oparinde (intermediate girls’ 300m). Karanjot Singh came second in the junior boys’ 300m and Eddie Fenton was second in the intermediate boys’ 400m, while Toritse Etuwewe also won silver in the intermediate girls’ 200m. Thomas Silcock was just edged into bronze in the intermediate boys’ 200m but still got a PB. Also gaining bronze was Imogen Morland in the junior girls’ 300m.

Imogen Morland won bronze in the junior girls’ 300m.

Many thanks to all involved in organising the event, including officials, school PE staff, coaches, parents and athletes – not forgetting the very busy people on the catering team!