South West Intercounties Championships 2021

22 July 2021

On by far the hottest weekend of the year so far a large number of Harriers made the trip to Exeter to compete in the South West Intercounties Championships. The trip was made worthwhile for all the athletes with 21 achieving podium finishes and many more running PBs.

We had six 1st place finishes by U17G Jess Duncton, U17G Ruby Brook, U15B Fred Fowler, U15B Othniel Harris and U17B Isaac Henderson. At the English Schools silver medallist Duncton went into the event as a clear favourite, but dealing with that effectively requires a whole different skill set. Duncton did not disappoint, remaining calm under pressure to fly away from her rivals and cross the line in 11.33, her 2nd quickest time ever. Duncton then emphasised her status as number one in the south west by winning the 200m too in a brilliant 25.58. Duncton then demonstrated her multi event pedigree with a 3rd place finish in the shot put with a best of 9.57. It was amazing to see Ruby Brook leading the 300m. Brooks experienced disappointment at English Schools, but showed her mental strength and resilience to prove that was just a one off and take the win this time around in 41.95, a well deserved gold. 

(Photo: Florence Hampton, Megan Amey, Jess Duncton and Grace Pitman)
Fred Fowler was the 100m champion in a new PB of 11.88, 0.11 clear of 2nd place. Fowler had a busy sprinting weekend, running superbly throughout to achieve PBs in the 200m and 80m hurdles as well. In the 200m he ran a PB of 24.83 for 4th and in the hurdles he ran a PB of 12.44 for 3rd. Fowler was joined in the 100m by club mates Othniel Harris and Oliver Belbeck with both running PBs. Harris was 5th in 12.37 and Belbeck 6th in 12.59. Harris was also in PB shape when he jumped 1.60m to take high jump gold. Harris improved his PB by 3cm to win the event by 10cm. Competing in the longest event of the day was Isaac Henderson. Henderson had to take on the scorching heat over the 3000m and showed racing tactics far beyond his years. Waiting patiently, Henderson gradually wound up the pace as the race progressed and timed his kick to perfection to win in 9:18.86.

Also competing over 3000m was U15G Ellis Woolley. Completing only her 2nd 3000m ever, Woolley overcame the hot conditions to take 2 seconds off her PB to finish 3rd in 11:30.51. In the 1500m races U17G Kiya Dee achieved a podium finish to take 2nd in 5:04.73 and U15G Georgia Howell was 7th in 5:12.35. U13B Leo Soakell ran a 3 second PB in the 800m crossing the line in 2:31.13 for 5th.

Megan Amey came 2nd in the U13G 70m hurdles in a PB of 12.97, dipping under 13 for the first time. Amey also competed in the 100m where she ran 14.61 for 13th. 3 other Harriers competed in the U13G 100m alongside Amey, it is great to see so much depth from the club. Charlotte Smith was first across the line running a PB into a -1.8 headwind to finish 5th in 13.99. Kitty Buckland ran 14.54 for 12th and Izzy Cook was 15th in 15.03. Florence Hampton ran well to win hurdles silver in the U15G 75m event in 12.32 and threw a shot put PB of 9.80m for 2nd. SW Abi Williams took almost 2 seconds off her best to finish 2nd in the 400m hurdles in a superb 66.36. Williams also finished 5th in the 100m in 13.02. U15B Oliver Belbeck ran a great 300m to finish 2nd in 42.13 and U20W Grace Pitman took home a bronze in the 100m in 13.01. Having stepped up to 400m this year Jorja Webb is gaining valuable experience and ran a strong race to finish 5th in 62.24. U15G Elinor Farrier competed over 100m and 200m finishing 10th in the 100 in 13.85 and a brilliant 5th in the 200m in a new PB of 27.77. There were also 200m PBs for U13G Charlotte Smith who was 6th in 29.36 and U17B Oliver Spencer who was 4th in 23.31.

(Photo: Ruby Brook, Alfie Wood, Ellis Woolley and Oliver Belbeck)
Over in the field English Schools competitor U17G Mimi Davis showed determination to throw a 41cm PB to take silver in 35.97. U15B Charlie Mason and U17B Luca Colombini made it three javelin silver medals for Harriers with throws of 37.91 and 43.04 respectively, the latter being a PB for Colombini. Alfie Woods jumped a solid 6.61 for 2nd in the U20 long jump making it 8 competitions over 6.60 this year something he had only achieved twice before this season. In the pole vault Sulaiman Ouiles took 3rd with a highest jump of 3.20m and Bexley Turbard was 4th with 3.10m.