Pole Vaulter's Medal Haul

A small but highly talented group of Preston Harrier's made the journey across the Pennines to compete in the under 15's & under 17's Northern Track & Field Championships at an impressive new stadium in Middlesbrough to bring back 5 medals. 4 in the Pole vault and the other in the Hammer.
Harrier's Developing Pole Vaulting Talent Jessica Swannack continued her impressive season by setting a Championship Best performance and personal best outside of 3.66 metres to take the Northern title in the under 17's age group. Jess just narrowly failing 3.76 metres but is now ranked 4th in the country. Harriers made it a 1, 2 with Ava McGuckian taking silver with a vault of 3.05 metres. It was pleasing to see David Jeans take Gold in the Under 15's Boys Pole Vault with a lifetime best of 2.75 metres after a long illness. Fourth Vaulting medal was won by Joseph Duffy, a bronze in the Under 17's boys event, when he cleared 3.40 metres.
The success of these Pole Vaulters are the result of coach Colin Harrison's joining forces with Blackpool and Sale Harriers coaches to have a North West vaulting group who train together to develop the area's talent.
Harriers reigning Northern Under 17's Hammer Champion Edward Jeans (Elder brother of David), fresh from his bronze medal when he represented English School's at the School International last month, retained his title with a new lifetime best throw of 66.45 metres. With the national just 2 weeks away this was an encouraging performance for the country's 3rd best thrower. The Hammer events provided more lifetime bests for Jordan Cooper and Emma Vickers. Jordan threw a metre further than ever before to record 44.36 metres in the under 17's event and he then Putt the shot, a personal best of 11.11 metres. A new emerging Hammer talent, Emma, who has only been throwing for 6 months heaved the implement 37.10 metres, a 5 metres improvement on her previous best.
A personal best of 7.22 metres was not quiet enough to earn Joshua Leatherd a medal, finishing 4th in the under 17's Boys Long Jump.