A small but talented band of 8 Oxfordshire athletes headed to Derby for this year regional Combined Events. A combination of covid induced years of inactivity plus the proximity of ESAA national finals, next week, meant that only the brave and longstanding multi eventers persevered.
Junior Boys
Two new Junior Boys (U15) made their first appearance in a combined event competition and both had success. Numbers of athletes from all 7 counties in the Midland region were down significantly. Oscar Street (Chipping Norton) competed in 2 events for the first time which he had never done before in competition. These were the high jump where he jumped 1.29 mts and the 800mts when he finished really well with a 2min 35.23sec. His hurdle, long jump and shot had all been below his PBs so he enjoyed the two new events even more achieving these new PBs. Oscar, acquitted himself admirably and finished a creditable 14th. Meanwhile teammate Aidan Williams (Chipping Norton) was set to have a great day after an opening event (80mt Hdls) in which he knocked more than a second off his PB! Aidan was now in 3rd position a place he would maintain to the finish, which was probably the highlight of the day as he came from 5th at the 400mt point, some 80 mts behind to win the 800mts – a remarkable last lap which had the crowd on its feet. Aidan gained the first of 5 places Oxfordshire would achieve to the national ESAA finals in September.
Inter Boys
Kyle Rayson (Heyford Park), our only Inter boy, took part despite having suffered suspected shin splints the week leading up to the event. As a result, his expectation was he would not perform too well. However, he started with a new long jump PB, followed this with a new javelin PB and then ended day one with a new 400mt PB. Day 2 started with the 100mt helps where he was just one hundredth of a second outside his PB and he finished the day with a new 1500mt PB. So, 5 PBs from 8 events and a near miss in the hurdles for 6!! Overall, Kyle finished eight and we wait to see if his points total will be sufficient to gain a wildcard place at the finals.
Inter Girls
Charlotte Ashby and Annie Jonkers (Both Gillots) are the comeback kids! Back in 2019, as an u13 girl Annie had shown huge promise and was a top 10 athlete in 3 of her 5 events. Four years later and a series of injuries were all behind her as she sprang back to lead the event with an electric 80 mt hurdles followed by a great high jump. She ended the first day with a new 200mt PB. The second day started with a new long jump PB and a top 3 finish was guaranteed with a good javelin followed by a solid 800mts. This guaranteed her our second final position.
Meanwhile Charlotte had similarly suffered over the past 3 years and had found a new love, doing exceptional work in the Javelin. After a first day where she was just under her PBs across all four events she was in 6th place with the prospect of a big move upward with her Javelin to come on day two. The day again started well for her with a new long jump PB. The javelin awaited!! Regrettably after two no throws she was forced to take a ‘stab’ to ensure some points would accrue. This did not stop her pushing on in the final 800mt event to achieve a new season’s best and getting into 7th place overall.
Senior Boys
The much-awaited appearance of our first Senior Boys Team for many years would prove to be the most PB littered series of events for the three men. Archie Street (Chipping Norton), Ryan Wells (Henley College) and Nulam Hang Kambang (Greyfriars) all competed in the decathlon in their first year. Archie led from the first event as he raced to a new 100mt PB. A standard long jump ensured he stayed in first place but a blip in the high jump saw him drop to 3rd before he recovered all the ground with the best 400mts of the day to lead at the end of day one. The first 4 events on day 2 would see 4 PBs achieved for him but despite this it would need a win in the 1500mts to ensure 2nd place overall. Ryan was just below his best in all 9 of the first events. A hip injury was nursed through day 2 but he had to stop in the 1500mts to avoid further injury (with ESAA individual 110mt hurdles to compete in this week). Despite this he still finished 3rd overall. Nulam had a quiet day one but gave the performance of the day in the pole vault (his first ever appearance!) on day 2. As a team the boys supported each other throughout and winning the event ensured they will represent the Midlands region in the finals at Bedford in September.
Well done to all the athletes and so we take 5 to the finals in Bedford with the possibility they will be joined by Kyle. All the individual results are on the Power of 10.
Pete O’Keefe
CE Schools TM
