Chi youngsters aim for mid-table finish

NEWLY-PROMOTED Chichester will be looking to upset the odds when they continue their Division One National Young Athletes campaign at Horsham next week.

The squad of nearly 40 athletes representing under-15 and under-13 levels made their bow at this level last month in Crawley.

Even though the team came fifth out of six in the match, there were some very encouraging signs for the rest of the season.

With more than half of the title-winning Division Two champions from 2017 having moved up into the higher age group, the squad had very much of a new look to it, especially in the U13s where all but three of the 15 athletes were newcomers to the team.

The club’s team managers are confident that a mid-table placing is well within the capabilities of an improving group of young athletes.

At Crawley, the best performances of the day came from the under-15 boys where throwers Oliver Beach and Vinnie Conte- Smith went through the whole day unbeaten as a pairing.

Vinnie had just the better of things in the opening event, the hammer, while Oliver proceeded to take the initiative in both discus and shot with a 10.67m best in the shot the highlight of the day.

In the under-15 girls, Millie Grant started with a win in the hammer while Fleur Hollyer set a new personal best in the 100 metres. Fleur also showed her versatility in both javelin and high jump, two events which are part of the heptathlon if she decides to go in that direction as an under-17.

In the under-13s, Fionn O’Murchu led from the front with a third place in the 800 metres and a new PB of 7.86m in the shot.

In the girls, six athletes showed a variety of talents to cover the 18 events in the programme, including primary school pupil Grace Bishop, who completed the 1200 metres, 150 metres and shot.

The Chi Athletics squad

S Smith