TEDDY WILSON SPRINTS TO EUROPEAN U18 RECORD IN MANNHEIM

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland juniors excelled on day one of the Mannheim International with a number of superb performances including Teddy Wilson (coach: Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai, club: BFT Track Academy) setting a European U18 record, and several athletes improving their personal bests.

Wilson was in the form of his life as he equalled the European U18 100m record with a personal best of 10.26 (0.6), improving his previous best of 10.44. The mark consigned Jeff Erius’ (FRA) 10.27 mark to the history books, and also eclipsed Mark Lewis-Francis’ UK under 17 record in the process.

Also in the men’s 100m, Sean Anyaogu (Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai, BFT Track Academy) faced a head wind in heat one but still won the race in a comfortable 10.71 (-1.1).

Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Ryan Freckleton, Harrow) ran one of the quickest times of her career to date as she won her 100m heat in a time of 11.34 (-0.1). Just 0.01 outside her PB, the European U18 champion is rounding into form ahead of August’s European U20 Championships in Jerusalem.

Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester) was closely behind Wedderburn-Goodison in her heat as she crossed the line in 11.39.

In a later race, European U18 silver medallist Renee Regis (Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai, BFT Track Academy) ensured first position in 11.62 (-0.1).

The U20 women’s 400m races were just as fruitful for the Britons as PBs fell.

Ashley Nemits (Trevor Painter, Wigan & District) was involved in the quickest of the heats and she took full advantage of the situation to clock a lifetime best of 54.01 to finish second behind Johanna Martin of Germany. It took 0.02 off Nemits’ best to date which she set last month in Belgium.

There was a huge improvement for Charlotte Kelsey (Glynn Williams, Middlesbrough) as she improved her PB to 54.18, just a few days after a bronze medal at the England Championships with a then PB of 54.77.

Jessica Astill (Paul Keeble, Stevenage & North Herts) was second in heat two with a time of 54.97.

There were superb performances all round for the British trio of men’s 400m athletes who all won their respective heats.

Jake Minshull (Coventry) went in heat one ran 47.55 which was just outside the PB of 47.30 that he ran in Chelmsford last week.

In the following heat, Sam Lunt (Andrew Fraser) ran even quicker, dipping under 47 to record a time of 46.94, a huge PB for the hurdler. His previous 400m flat record stood at 48.23, so it was a huge improvement for the Wirral athlete.

There was an outright PB for Alex Houchin (Mike Bennett, Worcester) who went quicker than he did in Chelmsford to post a time of 47.62 to win his heat.

Emily Newnham (Nick Dakin) won the women’s U20 400m hurdles race in her third fastest time. The Shaftesbury Barnet athlete who will race at the European U20 Championships in August, sealed victory in 57.73.

The U20 men’s 4x100m relay edged ahead of Germany in a close encounter to take the spoils. Rusciano Thomas-Riley (Ronnie Williams, Coventry) got the quartet off to a flyer before handing to Emmanuel Duruiheoma (Leon Baptiste, Shaftesbury Barnet) down the back straight. Brook Cronin (Andrew Kennard, Walton) maintained a good position before Sean Anyaogu (Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai, BFT Track Academy) finished off the job, holding off Germany’s Thorben Finke to edge it by a tenth.

The U20 women’s 4x100m relay team were second in their race behind the German outfit, posting a time of 44.25. Sprint hurdler Mia McIntosh (Jake Awe, Harrow) got the team off to a good start before handing over to Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Ryan Freckleton, Harrow) in her second race of the day. Success Eduan (Anita Richardson, Sale Harriers Manchester) ran an assured bend before handing over to Faith Akinbileje (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley) – the European U18 200m champion – to bring the team home in second. The German team set a time of 43.94.

In the field, Michael Allison (Tom Dobbing, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) ended the men’s U20 javelin competition in second place overall with the best throw of his series measuring at 73.91m. His compatriot Charlie Evans (Felicity Dawes, Banbury) was fifth as he threw 68.21m in round five.

In the women’s shot put, European U18 champion Cleo Agyepong (John Hillier, Blackheath & Bromley) achieved a best of 14.62m in round two which secured fourth place in the competition.

The results page and the live stream can be found HERE.