TWO West Cheshire Athletic Club teenagers have been named on the England Athletics Youth Talent Programme.
Throwers Kara Stoll and Harriet Wheeler, and their coach, Dave McKay, have been selected to take the first step on the Talent pathway designed to meet the needs of identified, talented English athletes/para athletes aged between 16 and 18 years of age.
Kara is ranked sixth in the UK for her under 17 age group in hammer throwing after achieving a personal best of 49.52m at last month’s Final Fling Competition at Wrexham’s Queensway Stadium.
Kara is the reigning Cheshire Clubs’ and Schools County champion and won the Inter County Schools title at the Mason Trophy in June at Stoke’s Northwood Stadium.
And Harriet is ranked third in the UK for her under 17 age group in javelin after producing a throw of 37.86m in her only javelin competition appearance of the year at last month’s Final Fling Competition following her recovery from an injury.
Last year, her first year in the under 17 age group, saw Harriet represent England in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago where she pocketed a silver medal with a throw of 51.50m, and won the England Athletics Championship title, the Schools International title, as well as Cheshire County Clubs’ and Schools’ titles with Championship Best Performances of 47.21m and 50.05m respectively.
The Youth Talent Programme focuses on developing a dual career for the athlete/para athlete through fulfilling their potential within the sport and also in their education and employability. It is supported by London Marathon Events and TASS.
The programme aims to complement club provision and add value to the athlete/para athlete and coach plan to help develop a broad range of skills, abilities and behaviours needed for senior success, delivered through practical training sessions with like-minded athletes in their event group, performance support sessions and workshops. There is also the opportunity for coaches to access additional qualifications, mentoring and support delivered through the England Athletics Youth Talent Programme coaches.
For those athletes in full-time education the Youth Talent Programme will allow the athlete/para athlete to gain an academic support qualification (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) allowing progression either to further / higher education or to gain employment within a related field.
Those athletes/para athletes not in full-time education will be able to access the Youth Talent Programme content and use skills gained from their training to support their personal development and progression without the qualification.
MICHAEL YOUNG clocked two hours 37 minutes 25 seconds for third position in Sunday’s Snowdonia Marathon.
The West Cheshire AC member finished nine minutes behind winner, Andrew Davies (Maldwyn) who posted 2:28:41, while Michael Kallenberg (Swansea) was third in 2:33:40.
Other West Cheshire AC finishers included Agnieszka Shaw who clocked 4:27:30, and Richard Hunt who posted 5:26:56.
FIXTURES this weekend include the Borders Road Running League at Tattenhall, on Sunday, (11am start).
WEST CHESHIRE AC coaches will be delivering Sportshall Athletics in the Ellesmere Port Sports Village Sportshall between 6-8pm on Fridays from November 1, with the aim of helping youngsters prepare for the Schools Sportshall Athletics fixtures early next year. Please come along and support the sessions.
ENTRIES for all age groups are now open for the UKA Cross Challenge fixture being held at Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Saturday, November 23. The entry link is: https://www.entryhub.co.uk/british-athletics-cross-challenge-liverpool-2024
FORTHCOMING fixtures include the second round of the West Cheshire AC Schools Cross Country Races at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday, November 9 (10am start); the Manchester Cross Country League, at Kenworthy Woods, on Saturday, November 9; the Ellesmere Port and Halton District High Schools Cross Country Championships, at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Tuesday, November 12 (1pm start); the Dave Sunderland Inter County Schools Cross Country Cup, at Himley Hall, Dudley, on Saturday, November 16; the North Staffs Cross Country League, at Park Hall, Stoke, on Saturday, November 16; the Conwy Half Marathon on Sunday, November 17; the Preston 5 and 10 Miles Road Races on Sunday, November 17; the UKA Cross Challenge Races, at Sefton Park, Liverpool, on Saturday, November 23; the Oulton Park 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, 20 miles, Marathon, at Timperley, on Sunday, November 24; the West Cheshire AC AGM at the EPSV Trackside Room, on Tuesday, November 26 (8.15pm start); and the North Wales Cross Country League, at Aberystwyth, on Saturday, November 30.
DATES and venues for this season’s Borders Road Running League are: November 3 at Tattenhall; December 8 at Cybi Striders; January 26 at Deestriders; March 16 at Ellesmere Port; April 6 at Buckley Runners; May 7 at either Prestatyn, Chester Tri, or West Cheshire (Presentation Evening).
All races are on Sundays and start at 11am except for the final race which is on a Wednesday evening with a 7pm start and is a relay event.
THIS winter’s Sale Harriers Manchester Indoor Open Meetings will be held at the Regional Athletics Centre, Sportcity, Manchester. M11 4FF, on the following Sundays, December 1 and 22; January 12; February 2; February 16; and March 9. The online entry link is: https://www.saleharriersmanchester.com/index.php/events-fixtures/winter-indoor-series
THE West Cheshire AC AGM will be held in the EPSV Trackside Room on Tuesday 26th November 2024, at 8.15pm.
FURTHER details about West Cheshire Athletic Club can be found at: www.westcheshireac.co.uk