Holly hits highest PB Award Level in Club

Sunny evening at lovely location

During the summer holidays there are not too many athletics meetings, as the majority of athletes are still in education. So one may need to travel a bit further afield to compete. And that’s what sprinters Holly Stewart-Hodges (Teens) and Dorian Matts (Teens coach) did, travelling to the picturesque Edmondscote Track, near Leamington Spa. Both were running the 100m and 200m in graded races, so they were not in the same heats.

The heats were run with the slowest runners in Heat 1 and that’s where Dorian lined up with three young girls (U13, U15, U17). There was only a slight headwind, on a day with a moderate breeze, due to the track being well sheltered by trees. Holly was in a more competitive Heat 3 where she came second in a PB of 14.0s, achieving a Level 6 England Athletics PB Award standard for U13 Girls. Really well done, Holly. Dorian managed to beat one of the girls in a season’s best of 16.18s.

Leamington Cycling and Athletic Club, who organised the event, presented the results in time order (see below) and Holly was 10th fastest on the night and Dorian 21st (there were more than 21 runners!).

Holly after winning her 200m race

Less than half an hour later, both Dorian and Holly were racing in the 200m heats.

Again Dorian was in heat 1 and this time Holly was in Heat 2, which she duly won, in sub-30s. She impressively held her form to the line, to achieve another PB and the highest EA PB Award level achieved in the Club to-date, Level 8 (out of 9) for U13 girls. Exceptional run, Holly.

An overly relaxed Dorian before 100m

Dorian turned the tables on the girls who beat him in the 100m but couldn’t keep up with a speedy U13 boy! Dorian's time of 33.17s was also a season’s best and quite close to his PB, so was a better run (that felt quick too).

NB You occasionally get to see some great budding young athletes at such events, but Dorian’s lasting memory, of the evening, apart from Holly’s astonishing 200m, will be of the awesome 100m in 14.27s by MV75 James Lindsay who recently ran 14.26s, gaining him #1 rating in UK for his age. Times, Dorian can only dream of!

RESULTS

100m

1st Chris Gibbs [MV45] (Bromgrove & Redditch) 12.67s

10th Holly Stewart-Hodges [U13] 14.00 (PB) {Level 6 EA PB Award}

14th James Lindsay [MV75] (Highgate) 14.27

21st Dorian Matts [MV65] 16.18 (SB)

200m

1st Daniel Hill [MV40] (Midlands Masters) 23.16s

12th Holly Stewart-Hodges [U13] 29.18 (PB) {Level 8 EA PB Award!!!}

20th Dorian Matts [MV65] 33.17 (SB)