Last week saw the start of the first of the Ulster Schools District A Championships held at Mary Peter’s Track.
East Down had five participants across the events; four were competing for Down High School (Charlotte Barr, Jacob Crawford, Alex Robinson, and Oliver Robinson) and one for Assumption Girls School (Anna Gardiner).
Oliver Robinson decided to try both the 400m and 800m senior races so he was glad that the 400m was a straight final. He ran a well-placed race in lane one but needed to slow down approaching the finish line because the blocks had not been removed and one of the officials was standing in his lane.
He placed second and acknowledged that the presence of the blocks would not have changed the result. He was disappointed with his 800m race, finding his legs very heavy from the 400m.
Jacob Crawford decided to try the steeplechase for the first time. The senior and intermediate races were combined so in the end he ran 2k and was pleased with his fourth position.
Anna Gardiner ran both the 3k and 5k races and came home with a silver in the 3k and gold in the 5k.
Alex and Charlotte were competing in the combined Year 4 and 5 intermediate races.
Charlotte ran in one of the 800m heats and placed fifth in a highly competitive race.
Alex decided, like his brother, to try the 400m and 800m races. Unlike his brother’s race, which was a straight final, there were three heats for the 400m.
The winner of each heat automatically qualified for the final and was joined by the next five fastest runners.
Alex placed fourth in his fast heat and did enough to qualify for the final. He then ran the 800m final but during the race realised that he had injured his calf while running the 400m.
Alex placed fifth and after the race decided to withdraw form the final of the 400m. Both Charlotte and Alex are in Year 4 so are young for this category, they will be able to have another go next year.
