Not so Low Key Track and Field

Last weekend we had a number of Juniors and Teens and one Senior competing in two open track and field events:

• the first Low Key Open for Under 13s at Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham

• Gloucester AC's Spring Open at Blackridge Jubilee stadium, Gloucester

The low key opens are held to enable youngsters to get experience of track and field events and learning how a T&F meeting works, in a low pressure, suportive environment.

Lola enjoyed her day

They're organised by Cheltenham & County Harriers and it's mainly their youngsters particpating, but this year we were the second largest group with over a dozen youngsters participating, many in their first such meeting:

Alice Averies (11), Ania Gasior (9), Aria Stavrakakis (11), Brecon Musk (8), Ed Knight (11), Emily Hughes (10), Esther Eldridge (9), Jack MacPeak (8), James Kalantzis (9), Lola Beardsley (8), Poppy Wilson (10), Sammy Stickney (8),Toby Conway (12).

These events are in the new UKA competition age groups (from 2026): Under 10s, Under 12s and Under 14s.

The Gloucester AC Spring Open is open to all ages from Under 11s, including a Quadskid competition, through to Senior and Master Athletes, and Teens :

Aria (again!), Ben Conway (Toby's older brother and second claimer). Holly Stewardt-Hodges, and Senior: Brecht Grieten competed.

In the Low Key Opens (1), events are scaled for the different age groups, so some younger children could do 600m maximum, whereas older children could do up to 1500m. And javelins are replaced with Vortex howlers, and a Sportshall event is introduced : Speed Bounce. The children run in heats so all have a chance at a Podium finish.

Toby demonstrating great form and Aria not being overshadowed!

RESULTS : Starting with the shorter distances:

Under 10s 60m flat: James 9.28, Ania & Sammy 9.94, Lola 10.2, Jack 10.81, Esther 11.00 (inaugural U10 records for Ania and James)

Under 12s 100m flat : Emily 16.51

Under 14s 100m flat : Aria 14.31 (inaugural Club record)

Under 10s 55m hurdles : Lola 12.01 (inaugural Club record)

Under 10s 60m hurdles : Brecon 14.53, Jack 14.75 (inaugural Club record for Brecon)

Under 10s 600m : Brecon 2:16.0, James 2:18.0, Ania 2:22.0 (inaugural Club records for Ania and Brecon)

Under 12s 1200m : Ed 4:17.0 (inaugural Club record)

Under 14s 1500m : Toby 5:24.0 (inaugural Club record)

Under 10 Vortex Howler throw : James 23.52m

Long Jump : Aria 3.95 (inaugural U14G Club record), James 3.37 (inaugural Club record), Jack 2.37. Brecon 2.05, Emily 1.73m

Speed bounce : Lola 54, James 53

From smiles to not so keen on not achieving a PB? Clockwise from top left : James, Ed, Sammy, Brecon and Toby.

Well done to all the children.

At the Spring Open, only Aria, Holly (both U13), Ben (U15) and Brecht (Senior) competed :

100m Holly 14.20, Aria 14.69

200m Holly 29.58, Aria 31.33

1500m Brecht 4:45.71

3000m Ben 10:18.56s (inaugural Club record)

Long Jump Aria 3.67m (beating her own Club record)

I will report more soon, as the track and field season really gets into gear.

Dorian, Head of Junior Athletics

Notes

1. the Low Key Opens are not official EA registered events, due to the track issues at PoW, so the results do not appear on Power of 10. I'm recognising them as unofficial for Club records purposes, but in italics, until more Juniors enter the official Open events and achieve record performances.