THE WARWICKSHIRE County 3,000m Championships held at the Edmondscote track in Leamington proved to be a very successful event for Stratford Athletic Club runners and for one athlete it proved to be a truly spectacular night, writes Danny Tolhurst.
Agnes McTighe won the 3,000m U15 girls’ race in 9.25.61, which is reported to be a new world best time for a 13-year-old. Agnes has been in stunning form this year and she has been threatening to post a time to make the world of athletics sit up and take notice.
Paul Hawkins, Agnes’ coach, had a feeling that a special run was on the cards but even he did not dare to predict such an outstanding performance.
With almost one month to go before her 14th birthday, Agnes is now the second fastest ever UK U15 female athlete at 3,000m. She is 2.81 seconds behind 21-year-old GB international Emelia Gorecka, who won gold at the European Junior Championships in 2013, has been the British 5,000m champion on the track and national cross country champion.
Agnes is currently the fastest U15, U17 and U20 female in the UK in 2015. Her winning time is inside the World U18 Championships qualifying standard and just 0.61 outside the European U18 standard.
Agnes finished the race at Leamington one minute and 33 seconds ahead of the second placed U15 girl. Had she been in the senior women’s race, she would have won by 29 seconds.
Also running the best 3,000m race of his life was Oscar Barbour. Oscar is really making a name for himself in road running but here he demonstrated he has superb track speed with a composed and determined race to finish in 9.33.79.
Seb Hopper is just starting to make progress on the track. The hard-working 15-year-old produced a high quality run (10.06.62) and it cannot be long before he goes sub-ten minutes.
Never one to miss an opportunity to test himself in a competitive environment, Tim Hutchinson put in a dogged display in his 3,000m race. His time of 10.14.89 is one he will be setting his sights on amongst his numerous other challenges as he warms up for the Snowdonia Marathon.
The 200m is unfamiliar territory for Marmaduke McTighe but he made the most of his opportunity to try this distance by running a smart time of 30.67.
The 800m races saw excellent performances from a whole host of Stratford AC’s up and coming talent. Ignatius McTighe, Adam Pomeroy, Olivia Hall, Daisy Musk, Edie Hutchinson and Agatha McTighe gave evidence of their current form and fitness with exhibitions of mature and classy running.
Results: 3,000m U15 girls – Agnes McTighe – 1st, 9.25.61 (PB).
3,000m U17 men – Oscar Barbour – 2nd, 9.33.79 (PB); Seb Hopper – 3rd, 10.06.62 (PB).
3,000m senior men – Tim Hutchinson – 8th, 10.14.89 (PB).
200m – Marmaduke McTighe (U13) – 30.67.
800m – Adam Pomeroy (U15) – 2.24.53 (PB); Agatha McTighe (U17) – 2.33.08 (PB); Ignatius McTighe (U11) – 2.37.99 (PB); Olivia Hall (U15) – 2.39.78; Daisy Musk (U15) – 2.40.72; Edie Hutchinson (U15) – 2.49.68.
