With the 2015 outdoor track and field season in full swing, Newton Aycliffe lass Rachel Bennett has carried on where she left off with her indoor success! This started in May as she claimed the sprint double (u15g 100m +200m) at the North East Counties track and field championships.
Rachel then added the Durham County schools junior girls (yr8+9) 100m title, in time that equalled a record that had stood for over 40 years, which gained her selection for the English Schools Championships. These took place in July at Gateshead International Stadium and entry standards dictate that only the most elite athletes in each age group participate.
Competing from the lower end of the age group (Yr8) and having only just celebrated her 13th birthday a week previously, Rachel excelled to qualify for the final which required a pb in the semi – final to ensure her progress. Understandably from someone so young a combination of nerves and fatigue meant Rachel found the medal positions a step beyond her this year as she went on to finish in 7th place however will return with higher expectations in 2016.
Nevertheless Rachel’s 2015 season continued at a blistering pace as she has went on to claim the Northern Championships u15 100m gold and 200m silver medals beating the best athletes from area’s such as Yorkshire, Manchester, Liverpool, Derbyshire, Humberside and our own North East counties in the process.
Rachel also went on to revise her 100m pb yet again to currently lead the U.K u15 rankings and will be contesting the National age group championships on the 29th August in Bedford.
Another Newtonian enjoying medal success this season has been u17w Courtnie Mills who has revised her 100m, 200m and 300m personal bests which has enabled her to claim 300m bronze at the NE champs, 200m silver at the Durham county schools champs and another silver at the Northern inter county schools championships (200m).
Coutnie also went on to claim a final place at the Northern Championships where she finished in a very good 7th place against a national level field despite going in ranked 13th. In doing so Courtnie revised her personal best for the distance by a massive 0.61s!
Courtnie performances this season have gained her selection to represent the North East region in the Northern Inter County championships which take place in Blackburn on the 22nd August.