Osborne and Grice are ready for international mission

GAIA OSBORNE and Maisie Grice are gearing up for international action after starring in the English Schools Championships.
Gaia Osborne. Picture: Paul SmithGaia Osborne. Picture: Paul Smith
Gaia Osborne. Picture: Paul Smith

The duo both picked up silver medals in Gateshead to earn their England vests.

Osborne qualified from pool A of the shot comfortably in first place on Saturday morning with a distance of 14.06m.

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In the final the 15-year-old had to settle for second out of 12 athletes with 13.98m as Hannah Molyneaux threw 14.12m to take the title.

Maisie GriceMaisie Grice
Maisie Grice

Osborne, who has a personal best of 14.99m, is now looking ahead to representing her country on Saturday in the Home Countries International in Kent.

She said: ‘I am a bit nervous because it’s my first international.

‘In some ways I don’t have as much pressure on me after finishing second in the English Schools.

‘I’ll just try to do my best and enjoy it.

Maisie GriceMaisie Grice
Maisie Grice
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‘It was my aim for the season to get my England vest so it’s a good feeling.

‘Going into the English Schools I was ranked number one in England by quite a big margin.

‘I was hoping to win but it was difficult with qualification and it was the first time I have faced my big rivals since I threw my best.

‘This summer I’ve exceeded my goals I have set for myself in both the javelin and the shot this summer, so I’m going in the right direction.’

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Cams Hill School pupil Grice, from Fareham, finished second out 17 runners in the inter girls’ 1,500m steeplechase.

The Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete stepped up the pace to move from fifth to second in a fast last lap.

Her time of 4min 59.56sec was a massive new personal best by 11 seconds.

Maisie’s sister Evie made her first English Schools’ final as she ran well in the senior girls’ 800m race.

She won her heat in 2.16.13, before finishing eighth.