
20th September 2022
WEEKEND ROUND-UP (17-18 SEPTEMBER)
European DNA U20 Match, 17-18 September, Castellón, Spain
Blackheath and Bromley represented Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the inaugural European DNA U20 competition, and after winning the qualifying event on Saturday, they finished second overall to Enka Sports Club (Turkey) in Sunday’s A final.
In the qualifier, European U18 200m champion, Faith Akinbileje (coach: John Blackie) was the star performer as she clocked a 100m personal best of 11.53 (2.0) to take the win.
There was also a lifetime best of Jodie Self (Karl Sumun) in the women’s 100m hurdles as she revised her best to 14.24 (1.4) to also take maximum points for the British club.
In the last event of the competition, ‘The Hunt’, World U20 finalist Samuel Reardon (Nigel Stickings) anchored the team home to victory which saw them progress to the A final.
In the final, there were victories for Akinbileje, Self and Jeriel Quainoo (Ryan Freckleton) – the latter winning the men’s 200m in a time of 21.43 (-1.9).
Despite a big effort from the team in ‘The Hunt’ which saw them move up from third to second position overall, Blackheath and Bromley could not overhaul the Turkish outfit but did take a superb second place in the inaugural competition.
Results
Copenhagen Half Marathon, Denmark, 18 September
Calli Thackery (Hallamshire) continued her excellent 2022 season as she recorded a lifetime best for the half marathon as she moved to 12th on the UK all-time list after posting a time of 69:02.
Elsewhere, Lucy Reid (Richard Owen, Tonbridge) also improved her best to 70:29 to move inside the UK all-time top 20.
In the men’s race, Ross Millington (Stockport) was the top British finisher in a time of 63:09, while Callum Hawkins (Robert Hawkins, Kilbarchan) made a return to half marathon action posting 63:13.