GB&NI U20 TEAM SHINE AT THE LOUGHBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS MEET

A brilliant day at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium kicked off the outdoor season for the U20 Great Britain & Northern Ireland team, who finished second overall at the annual 2025 Loughborough International Athletics meet.

This event is the season opener for many young athletes and a great chance to gain championship experience ahead of the summer, especially with the U20 European Championships in Finland in August.

Commonwealth Youth Games Champion and European U18 100m record holder Teddy Wilson (Marvin Rowe, Shaftesbury Barnett) won the men’s 200m in a close-fought race with a time of 21.11. Welshman Jack Organ (Derek Osborne, Brecon) stormed to a 1:50.80 victory in the men’s 800m to claim the top spot.

Jabez Berry (Steve Pearson, Halesowen) threw a personal best of 74.14 to win the men’s hammer throw, taking him third in the world in his age category. The men’s relay team ran an impressive 39.54 to win the 4x100m race, close to the U20 national record which stands as 39.05 which was set in 2000.  

A sterling effort by Dillon Millard (Dave Lee, Taunton AC), who finished second, running a personal best of 9:03.44 in the 3000m steeple chase, a fast race with all top four athletes running a new personal best. A third-place finish for Oliver Parker (James Wright, Rugby & Northampton) with a personal best of 51.33 in the men’s 400m hurdles.

After an impressive indoor performance at the British Championship, Otis Poole (Joy Bray, Yate) jumped to fourth with a height of 2.08, alongside Kimani Jack, who was representing Team England.

A stellar performance from 2024 European U18 silver medallist Shaikira King (John Skevington, Wreake & Soar Valley) took the win in the 800m with a time of 2:04.27. A second place for Stephanie Okoro (Laura Turner-Alleyne/Tony Benton, Havering) in the women’s 400m hurdles with a sub-60 time of 59.23.  

A personal best of 9:18.47 for Isla McGowan (Ros Kelling, Banbury) in the women’s 3000m, finishing in second place, where six out of the top seven ran a new best.

In the mile race, Isobelle Jones (Wolverhampton & Bilston) ran a new personal best of 4:47.38 to claim the second spot in an experienced field. In the women’s long jump, Daisy Snell (Guy Spencer, Blackheath & Bromley) finished a close fourth by 1cm, equalling her best of 6.16m.

Maddie Down (Mike Bennett, Halesowen) jumped 4.62 m in the para women’s long jump behind an experienced Livy Breen, who was representing Wales, jumping 4.84m. Maddie had no rest as she competed in the para 100m, running a personal best of 13.10 to finish third.

The women’s 4x100m sprint team finished in second place with a time of 44.75. The day’s final event was a mixed 4x400m, in which the U20 team finished second behind a strong Team Wales quartet.

A full list of results can be found here.

photo credit – Pat Isaacs