Athletes set to spring from Sussex Schools Champs

Hurst’s athletes have collected five gold medals across the track and field in the Sussex Schools Championships held at K2 in Crawley.

Holly Webb (UVI) threw the Javelin a mighty 39.92 metres - a personal best - to win gold and in the process, achieved what all the competitors strive for at this stage of the season, qualification to the English Schools Championships to be held in Gateshead.

Beth Crocker (Remove), James Hebbard (Remove), Natasha Barnes (Shell) and Peter Firth (Shell) also placed themselves on the top spot of the podium and will take their good form into the Inter-Counties Championships next weekend, where they hope to book their place in the English Schools Championships alongside Holly.

Beth Crocker has had an impressive season in her many events and in the familiar surroundings of K2 she achieved her gold medal in the Intermediate Girls’ Triple Jump. Likewise, James Hebbard has been throwing well and he attained top spot in the Intermediate Boys’ Shot Putt.

In the Junior category Natasha Barnes defeated all comers in the Girls’ Javelin while in the Boys’ 80 metres Hurdles, Peter Firth burst to victory.

Nick Harding, Head of Athletics, accompanied the team at the weekend event and afterwards said, “To have five gold medals at this level is an achievement that our athletes can rightly be proud of. In addition, Holly’s qualification is the perfect inspiration to the rest of the team and I’m hopeful that we will have more big performances like that in the Inter-County Championships.”

Hurst also had podium finishes from Chloe Sweetland, who achieved bronze in the Discus, Max Paterson who collected bronze in the Javelin and India Coker, who gained a silver in the Long Jump and a bronze in the 100 metres.

The English Schools Championships are scheduled to be held on 6th and 7th of July.