Sunday 9th August saw two of Stockport Harriers under 15 age group Combined Events Athletes take part in the England Under 15 Combined Events Championships. Held over two days at Bedford’s International Stadium Holly Benson & Megan Lasseter (Coach: Mike Frost) took part in the six event Hexathlon with a large field of athletes from across the country.
A weekend of soaring temperatures saw Megan produce 3 new personal bests in the Shot, Javelin & 800m. After recently learning a new stride pattern in the Hurdles Megan worked well to run a time close to her best before heading to the Long Jump to produce her third best performance of 2015 (4.34m). After picking up a back injury at the English Schools Combined Events in June Holly ran close to her best ever 75m Hurdles time before frustratingly jumping well achieving 4.09m but loosing 40cm on the take – off. Holly went on to record two new personal best performances in Shot and 800m.
The final event of the first day was the Javelin which for most athletes in the competition is a new event and the extra event added to create the Hexathlon, rather than the Indoor Equivalent Pentathlon. Megan achieved her new personal best of 13.78 after only ever throwing twice before. Holly pulled it together to perform the second best throw of her life recording 22.49m in the final round after struggling with the wind in earlier throws.
Day two was even better than the first day with both Holly & Megan achieving nothing less than their personal best performances. Starting well Megan outperformed her previous best of 6.60m recording 6.62m in the first round of the Shot. However it was in the final round where both girls improved significantly with Megan bettering the 6.62 improving to 6.69 and Holly recorded her first throw over 9 metres recording 9.16 throwing against the top athletes in England. In the High Jump Holly equalled her personal best of 1.26 and this was perhaps one of Megan’s highlights of the weekend also equalling her best of 1.41 set only a week before. The final event, which for many after two hard days, and in this competition with the sweltering temperatures the 800m seemed like a marathon to finish the competition. Both girls committed well in their races and again recorded new personal best times.
Both Megan & Holly will have another year in the age group and look forward to moving improving their Combined events scores in 2016. Continuing their season with the Northern Championships for Under 15’s & Under 17’s this weekend (15th & 16th August) in Middlesbrough Holly & Megan will compete along with other athletes from the club.