City athletes make mark with indoor bests

Athletes competed across two weekends in the indoor London Games.

The star for the first weekend was young Gabriella Jones who continued the club’s success in the shot put.

She won the under-13 girls’ event in a new personal best of 8.96m.

Last year Elliot Evans was ranked in the top 10 in the United Kingdom in two different events in the under-13 age group.

This year saw him competing in his first indoor event as an under-15.

He continued to show his huge potential with two personal bests, placing third in the 200m and second in the shot.

He also came seventh in the long jump, just for good measure. Not bad for the athlete who is a specialist hurdler.

Another who was new to indoor athletics was young Alice Sydenham.

She achieved three personal bests, 9.1sec in the 60m, 30.32 in the 200m and 48.08 in the 300m.

Ella-May Sprake competed well in the under-15 girls’ shot with a throw of 7.44m and the long jump with a distance of 4.22m.

In the under-17 age group Madeline Wilton had a busy day with indoor season bests in the 60m hurdles (9.5) and long jump (5m).

But more significantly she recorded a personal best in the triple jump of 10.56m.

Serena Vincent showed her improving speed and power this winter season with a good run of 8.6 in the 60m.

It was also excellent to see Jo Martin back in action.

Last May he completed the sprint double in the county championships but had suffered with injury since.

He produced an excellent time of 7.37 for 60m.

First year under-15 Carter Clothier again showed what potential he has at this sport with a time of 7.54 for a personal best in his 60m race.

The seniors were in action last weekend.

Gaia Osborne continued her fantastic run of form by winning the senior women’s shot 12.12m, and she is a bottom year under-20 athlete.

Tom Farres, 19, found himself in a very high level pole vault competition.

Winner Nikandros Stylianou set a new national record for Cyprus.

Farres also rose to the occasion with a new lifetime best of 4.71m.

Osborne will compete in the national championships in Sheffield, while Farres is focused on the British Universities Championships at the same venue later this winter season.