National Young Athletes rankings

National Young Athletes Event Rankings

Havering Mayesbrook youngsters again feature prominently in the national event rankings for young athletes, which have recently been published.

Helen McDonnell (see photo right) was ranked national number 1 in the high jump for under 13 girls with her club-record breaking leap of 1.53m. The Sacred Heart Upminster pupil also entered the rankings at 150m, placing 7^th. In the same age group three club youngster made the discus listings. Louise Yard (23.77m) in 11^th just edged out Lauren Clark (12^thwith 23.62), while Lisa Schofield ranked 17^th with her 22.43m throw. The versatile Lauren Clark also made the 1200m rankings, in at 21^st with her 4m 03.4 secs run.

In the under 15 girls’ rankings the multi-talented Sara Luck appeared in no less than three lists. She was highest placed in the 800m, the event in which she won a bronze medal in the English Schools Championships, with her 2mins 14.52 secs clocking ranking her 5^th. Her 4mins 44.1secs 1500m effort ranked 10^th and for good measure she was 18^th in the pentathlon with her end-of-season 2706 points club record. Luck was joined in the 800m and 1500m rankings by Megan Foley, who placed 21^st with 2mins 18.1 secs in the shorter event and ranked higher at 17^th in the 1500m lists with 4m 46.5 secs. Charlotte Watkins was the third club member in the 1500m rankings, placing 22^nd with 4m 48.39 secs. Both Foley and Watkins are in the u15 age group next summer and can look forward to a higher ranking.

English Schools silver medallist Lynsey Clark had to settle for 7^th in the u15 girls’ national lists with her 33.34m medal-winning throw. Three other girls in this age group were ranked: Nicola Schofield ranks 11^th in the 75m hurdles with 11.59 secs, Emma Bonny 20^th in the Long Jump with 5.20m, and Caroline Smith 22^nd in the pentathlon with 2673 points.

Two under 17 girls made their age group rankings. Melanie Harrison placed 11^th with her 35.62m discus best while Claire Sargent was 22^nd in the 80m hurdles lists with 12.06 secs.

Junior International Faye Fullerton ranks at all three middle distance events for under 20 women. She is third ranked in the 1500m with her 4mins 22.76 secs best, which gained her selection for the World Youth Games in Hungary. Her 3000m effort of 9m 45.4 secs placed her 7^th, while her 800m best of 2m 8.88 secs was “only” good enough for 15^th. Lauren Deadman was also ranked 15^th in the 3000m – the event in which she won her English schools silver medal. Also in the under 20 age group rankings was thrower Sarah Deacon whose club hammer record of 40.13m placed her 21^st.

In the under 13 boys' national rankings pride of place went to the unbeaten Ashley Reece who ranked 2nd in the 1500m with his best of 4m 44.7 secs. There was also a top ten ranking for Ross Clarke in the 800m (2m 20.4 secs) while Michael Jenkins' 1.46m high jump ranked 11th.

Sprint star Andrew Bartlett enters the 100m, 200m and 400m lists for under 15 boys. The English Schools finalist ranked 7^th in both the shorter sprints with 11.30 secs in the 100m and 23.04 secs for 200m, and also ranked 17^th in the 400m with 53.3 secs. Jumper Scott Keating ranked in two events, placing 8^th in the high jump with 1.80m and 10^th in the long jump with 6.11m. Thrower Terry O’Leary joined his club mates in the national lists, placing 17^th in the javelin rankings with 44.87m.

Steven Prady (see right) was the only under 17 boy to make the rankings in 5^th with his 1.95m clearance that brought him club records not only in his age group but also in the under 20 men’s category.

No club under 20 athletes made the published national rankings.

At the other end of the age spectrum Lesley Felton is the only club athlete in the veterans' top-five listings, placing third in the women's age 40-44 category with 2m 19.91 secs.