Wolverhampton and Bilston's youngsters out to impress on national stage
Eight teenage stars from a local athletics club are competing against the nation’s best track and field youngsters this weekend.
The English Schools’ Athletics Championships takes place on Friday and Saturday at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club, who boast 1984 Olympic javelin champion Tessa Sanderson among their former athletes, will have a strong representation at the event.
Ethan Court, who is the son of 1992 Olympic heptathlete and club coach Clova Court, is competing in the junior boys’ triple jump.
Adam Saul-Braddock, 16, is running in the intermediate 800m, while Tyler Francis is competing in the juniors 1500m.
Jessica Humphreys, also 16, is competing in the intermediate 3000m and Amelia Samuels runs in the senior girls 1500m.
Hammer-thrower Phoebe Baggot, 16, represents one of the club’s best chances of bringing back a medal, having won gold two years ago and bronze last year.
The club also has two intermediate girls sprinters in action. Michelle Owusu competes in the 100m and Cynthia Agbor is running in the 200m.
“We’ve got a realistic chance of two or three medals,” said club coach Claudio Albanese. “Some of them will also be doing the relays for their respective counties.
“We’ve come away with medals from the last three English Schools’ Championships and we’ve got a good young contingent coming through.
“It’s the highlight of the season for any athlete that’s a school pupil. They’re all going to enjoy it.
“Some of them have been before so they know what’s required, some of them are at their first one, so nerves may come into it.”
Each county team is travelling to a hotel on the Thursday night before taking coaches to the Stadium on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s a professional event, and the highlight of the schools calendar for athletics,” added Albanese. “It’s been going on for well over 50 years.”
