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Northern Athletics Indoor Championships: 16 - 17 January 2010
Kate Wasyliw of Halifax Harriers took another step on her ladder of progression to firmly place her as one of the UK's leading U15 junior sprint talents. Kate was competing in both the 60m and the 200m, at the annual Northern Athletics Indoor Championships held at the Institute of Sport in Sheffield, over the weekend of the 16th and 17th of January 2010. Her achievements at the Harriers have not been eclipsed since the late 1980's when Steve Halliday successfully won, and then went onto defend his own indoor titles in the middle distance running category.
On day 1 Kate produced a series of textbook runs to qualify for the final in which she led from the gun to take gold in a time of 7.83s, which has since been confirmed as the fastest time in the UK this year for an U15 girl and is currently ranked 34th in the overall women's times. After an emotional first day Kate had to regroup and focus on qualifying for the 200m final, again through a series of heats. With a place in the final secured Kate was clearly physically and mentally drained but she held on take the silver medal in a time of 26.51s, behind Rachel Highfield of Middlesborough Mandale who won in a time of 26.05s and so complete a successful weekends work. Kate's time is ranked 2nd in her age group and 31st in the overall women's listings. Regan Smith who has just moved up from the U13's, was the only other female from the Harriers to compete in the 200m but sadly wasn't able to progress any further than the first qualifying round finishing with a time of 29.0s.
Saul Rigg was a debutant in this year's competition and he gave a more than competent display of running to qualify for his 60m final. He went on to finish 6th out of a field of eight, in a time of 7.67 seconds, his time is currently ranked 14th in the U15 junior men UK listings.
Hannah Walker was the final Halifax Harrier debutant in this year's championship and both she and Regan Smith were in the 800m heats on day 2 with a view to qualifying for the final later in the day. Qualification was tough with only the first two of each heat automatically assured of a place in the final. The remaining places were decided by the fastest losing times. Hannah gave a spirited display in heat 1 to finish in a time of 2:33.18 and so qualify as one of the fastest losers. Regan's time of 2:37.69 in a slower second heat fell short of the qualification criteria. In the final Eve Pound (City of Sheffield) and Ellie Wilson (Kinston Upon Hull) broke the field with about 300m to go and went on finish 1st and 2nd respectively in times of 2:26.34 and 2:27.81. Hannah's time of 2:36.88 slightly slower than in her heat highlighted the level at which both she and Regan will have to compete against throughout the forthcoming season which starts in spring, having both moved up from last years U13's.
With the Northern Championship's now over it will be back to the training ground for the next few weeks with just enough time to prepare for the English National Championship's to be held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham over the weekend of the 27th and 28th of February, the closing date for final entries being the 8th of February 2010.