Derby AC athletes bag medals in Northern Championships

Derby Athletic Club athletes scooped a host of medals and PBs in the Northern Senior, U20 and U17 Championships at the EIS in Sheffield on 10 and 11 January.

The club came away with three silvers and four bronzes, along with some excellent performances for athletes to build on, after two intense days of tough competition in a championships that featured some of the north’s top athletes.

Ella Blakey gained bronze for DAC in the 200m.

Ella Blakey, the 200m SW defending champion, won bronze with a SB of 24.60, in a very close race, with strong competition for medals from Sale Harriers Tess McHugh (silver) and Lincoln Wellington’s Mabel Akande, who added 200m gold to the championship record she ran to win the SW 60m.

Bronze medals for Kaylah McKenzie in the 200m (top) and the 60m (above). Kaylah in action (below) in the 60m.

Also in the sprints, Kaylah McKenzie had a great two days, gaining a bronze and a PB of 7.78 in the U20 60m on the Saturday, winning her heat and coming second in her semi on the way. On the Sunday she picked up another bronze, in the U20 200m final, with 25.53.

Caitlin Hadfield wins silver in the 400m (above) and (top) in action at the race finish.

And another DAC U20 athlete, Caitlin Hadfield, in her first winter U20 season, ran a strong SB of 57.54 to win the silver in the U20 women’s 400m – building on the 300m at last year’s championships, where she made the final.

A silver medal for Annabelle after a strong 800m race.

In the women’s middle-distance events, Annabelle Ita shone in the SW 800m, with a final-lap surge to move from third place to take the silver medal in 2:13.55.

Oliver Hume showed strength through the rounds to bag silver in the 400m final.

For the men, Oliver Hume showed his continuing strength in the 400m, coming through the heats and running a SB 51.20 in the final to take him to silver in the U20 men’s race.

And Oscar Blake ran a strong 4:25.62 to win the bronze in the U17 men’s 1500m race.

Also competing at the champs for Derby AC were:

Senior men’s 60m hurdles heats: Max Heavens, 7.01; Joel Akande, PB 7.20; Quayyum Abdullahi, 7.13.

Senior men’s 60m heats: Max Heavens, PB 6.98; Joel Akande PB 7.16; Quayyum Abdullahi, 7.03.
U20 men’s 60m semi-final: Blessing Ashita, PB 7.24.
U20 men’s 200m heats: Blessing Ashita, PB 23.25; Henry Booth SB 23.50.
Senior women’s 200m heats: Lauren Blakey SB 25.31.
Senior men’s 400m heats: Levi Heath SB 51.35.
U17 men’s 400m semi-final: Miles Heath 53.64.
Senior men’s 1500m: Sam Flaherty SB 4:18.83.
Senior men’s long jump: Wilf Lavalette PB 6.74

Congratulations to all the DAC athletes who took part and many thanks to all coaches, officials, parents and supporters who helped to make it happen.