Young Harriers won 4 medals at National Age Group Championships Part 2 Sunday 3rd March 2013

The performance of the weekend came from 14 year old Hannah Bartl (U16), who last month already collected  the bronze medal at the Scottish Schools in the 300m event and showed real determination to improve on her recent success. On paper Hannah had only the 6^th fastest time of all competitors going into this competition but this didn’t seem to trouble the 14 year old teenager as she made sure that she qualified for the final winning her heat comfortably in 47.57 seconds.  In the final Hannah showed real guts setting a fast pace over the first half of the race, establishing an early lead and was then able to hold off a strong challenge from the Edinburgh athlete, who was closing in quickly on the finishing line.

Hannah’s younger sister 12 year old Evie Bartl (U14) collected her second national medal after having already won the Pentathlon gold two weeks ago. After a sluggish start in the shot put with low 8meter throws, Evie comfortably qualified after 3 throws for the throw off final with the furthest distance of 8.84m and was still leading until the last round with a distance of 9.02m. The last round proved to be a thriller as it became very tight among the top three leading competitors and in the end Evie had to settle for the silver medal, being beating by 3cm.

Evie also competed in the 60m hurdle, an event which she recently enjoyed very much and has shown continuous improvements. Considering that Evie started this indoor season with a PB of 11.80 and had the second slowest time at last year’s competition, her recent good races at the National Open and Pentathlon meant that Evie went into the event with a new PB of 10.40. Evie was able to qualify comfortably second place in her heat with a new PB of 10.38. Evie had to leave the high jump competition early after clearing 1.30m to get ready for her hurdle final and although she  finished 6th place she run an excellent new PB of 10.28 seconds.

Ben O Neil, (U16), who recently showed good form and improvements in his favourite 800m speed endurance race was another Harrier who made it on to the podium. Ben made sure that he qualified comfortably winning his heat in a time of 2.10.99. The final became a real battle for second and third place and Ben did well holding off a strong challenge on the last 50m, securing the bronze medal in a fine time of 2.07.40, which also proved to be an excellent new PB for the youngster.

Cara Baillie (U16) gained valuable experience and competed in the 60m hurdle clocking 11.27, jumping 1.30m in the high jump and threw the shot put 6.94m.

Sprinter Cameron Wilson (U16) competed in the 200m where he came third in his heat running 26. 67. Cameron qualified as the fastest looser in his 400m heat clocking 59.34 but was unfortunately unable to repeat his good time in the final clocking only 61.30.

New comer 11 year old Robert Brady achieved a new PB in the 60m heat finishing 4 place with 9.08 and qualifyfing for the semi finals, where he placed 7th running another fine PB 9.02. Robert also competed in the 200m where he finished 4th in his heat clocking 32. 74.

Erin Connelly (U14) unfortunately missed her 60m races due to a mix up in the time table but competed later in the 200m where she comfortably won her heat in a new PB of 29.68 and came third in her semi final narrowly missing out of a place in the final with a good time of 30. 69. Erin also competed in the long jump leaping 3.34m.

This proved to be an excellent experience for some of our youngsters, who competed for the first time at national level.