Jade O’Dowda (Oxford City) took gold in the U17 Women’s Heptathlon in the England Athletics Championships at Bedford on the weekend of 20/21 August.
Coached by Marcia Marriott, Jade led for most of the weekend and her final score of 5,010 points put her 7th on the all-time UK list. She turned in a first-rate set of performances, with PBs in the Long Jump (5.76m and Shot Put (12.10m) to offset slightly below par performances in the High Jump and Javelin.
OCAC clubmate Katie Hetherington finished 15th in the same competition, registering PBs with five of the seven events, as well as for the Heptathlon itself. Zoe Pollock (Banbury) was one place behind in 16th, with her performance including PBs in 80m Hurdles and Shot Put. Lizzie Eskender (Banbury) came 39th in the U15 Girls’ Pentathlon, but chalked up PBs in the High Jump and Javelin. Both Banbury girls are in the first year of their respective age groups.