Midland Championships 2021, Watford BMC and Birmingham Uni Open

13 June 2021

A hot weekend hasn’t stopped our Harriers from flying to 6 medals at the Midland Championships. 

Sam Griffiths took on the 100/200 double, beginning on Saturday with the 100m the Griffiths won her heat with ease putting her in a good position going into the final. The Harrier kept her calm to ease ahead of her rivals in the closing stages with a season's best of 12.42 for a brilliant gold medal. The following day Griffiths returned in the 200m, running 25.52 for 2nd in her heat, Griffiths then had to deal with a long wait in the sun for the final and was rewarded with an amazing silver in 25.60. In the men’s 200m Harry Boswell was just 0.02 outside his season's best with a strong run of 24.72.

In the U20 long jump Alfie Wood was aiming to add the Midland title to his County win earlier this season and did so with ease jumping to a PB of 6.83, well clear of 2nd place. The jump moves Wood further up the UK rankings on the verge of breaking into the top 10.

Always up for a challenge, U17 Kiya Dee competed in the U20 1500m championship. The young athlete held her own against tough competition, finishing strong to beat most of her older rivals and obtain an incredible bronze in 4:39.84. In the senior women’s 800m Rebecca Hoadley took home an impressive silver medal with a time of 2:24.98.

Sam Howell has made huge improvements this season, ranked 15th U20 in the UK the Harrier had huge medal potential. Howell did not disappoint running his 2nd quickest time ever, and taking home a fantastic silver in 49.28.


George Watson keeps going from strength to strength this season and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed. Watson was given the opportunity to race in the Euro U23 Championships 5000m trials race at the Watford BMC Grand Prix. Watson made the most of the race, running another PB of 14:17.37 to move into the top 20 in the UK U23 rankings.

In a brilliant race at Birmingham Uni on Wednesday evening Kaitlyn Sheppard came within 1.34 seconds of the club U20 1500m record running 4:27.59. The time ranks the first year under 20 as 3rd in the UK and just 5 seconds outside the European U20 standard.