Athletics: Sportshall success for Cheshire and local athletes

Mar 3 2011 by Paul Wheelock, Chester Chronicle

A WHOLE host of athletes from West Cheshire AC and Halton & Frodsham Harriers are heading to the UK Sportshall Finals.

The youngsters booked their places at next month’s LG Arena showpiece in Birmingham by producing top performances for Cheshire in Sunday’s North West Finals in Wigan.

Cheshire celebrated three age group team victories out of four at the Robin Park Indoor Arena event, with only the under 15s boys team failing to progress to the big one after they were hit by last-minute withdrawals.

Olivia Montez-Brown had most reason to celebrate for West Cheshire AC as she claimed the U15s girls title after winning the standing long jump and four-lap race.

Laura Rigby, who finished second in the standing long jump and speed bounce, was joint third overall along with Harriers member Emma Scott, who won speed bounce and 4x2 relay gold and four-lap silver.

Kelly Baker was the shot winner and finished third in the two-lap, while Chloe Hunt was second in the vertical jump. The West Cheshire AC duo also raced to gold-medal glory in the 4x2 relay.

Wests trio Amy Williams, Charlotte Williamson and Emily Ball, and Harriers quintet Emily Ross, Katie Dinsdale, Annabel Kitchin, Michaela Campbell and Jess Wright, were part of Cheshire’s successful U13s girls team.

Amy stormed to top spot in the two-lap and the 4x2 relay, alongside Charlotte, Annabel and Michaela, as well as finishing second in the standing long jump.

Annabel also took gold and bronze in the standing long jump and four-lap respectively, while Charlotte came third in the two-lap.

Jess was a double-gold medal winner, in the standing triple jump and eight-lap paarlauf, and added a silver in the six-lap.

Emily Ross and Katie were members of the winning 4x2 obstacle relay team, as well as claiming speed bounce bronze and vertical jump silver respectively.

Wests quarter Matthew Pagan, Daniel Vickers, James McMahon and Chris Harrop, and Harrier Ben Sutcliffe, helped Cheshire’s U13s boys team to top spot.

Matthew won the speed bounce and 4x2 relay along with Daniel, as well as passing the post in third in the two-lap.

There were second-placed finishes for Daniel in the standing long jump and James in the shot, Chris was third in the six-lap, while Ben won obstacle relay gold and vertical jump silver.

West member Yousef Khalifa was second overall in the U15s boys competition after finishing second in the standing long jump and third in the shot.