McLean and Wakeling hit form at Essex championships (From Thurrock Gazette)

Essex and Eastern Counties Indoor championships latest

2:58pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Sport

ATHLETICS: THERE was a medal rush for Thurrock athletes at this year’s Essex & Eastern Counties Indoor Championships, writes Ryan Goad. Stanford-le-Hope’s Hayley McLean led the way for borough athletes, taking home eight medals including six golds, after the two days of action.

Young Thurrock Harriers James Pearson and Thomas Wakeling also had plenty so smile about as they pocketed six medals apiece, while there was a gold for Khai Riley-Laborde in the under-20 men’s 60m hurdles.

18-year-old McLean, who competes for Chelmsford AC, smashed two championship best performances on day one to take both Essex and Eastern Counties under-20 gold in the 400m (56.25s) and 200m (25.23s) before returning the next day for another win in the 60m hurdles (8.84s) and a runner-up spot in the 60m flat (7.91s).

Under-13 athlete Wakeling won three events, taking home six combined golds, all in the one day. The young Harrier won the 60m hurdles, 60m flat and the shot-putt.

Winning a bronze medal behind Wakeling in the 60m hurdles was team-mate Daniel Knight while a third Harrier, Harry Worsfield was placed fourth. Worsfield went one better in the 60m flat where he raced to third place, with Knight just ahead in the silver medal position.

Under-15 athlete Pearson won Essex gold medals in the shot-putt and 60m flat on day one, with his putt of 13.77m only not being quite good enough for Eastern Counties gold too after a huge throw by Stevenage’s Max Price. Pearson was back the next day to win a county bronze in the 200m.

Another young Harrier to enjoy a good day was under-13 athlete Jessica Smith who reached the final of the 60m hurdles and the semi-final of the 60m flat.

On day two, Palmer’s College student Khai Riley-Laborde (Enfield & Haringey) got the better of his former Harriers team-mate Robbie Clarricoats (Havering Mayesbrook) in the under-20 men’s 60m hurdles final. Riley-Laborde was initially disqualified after judges ruled he had false started but was re-instated to win in 8.24s, just a fraction ahead of Clarricoats whose time of 8.28s was a club record. The pair were gold and silver county medallists respectively, but were beaten to the Eastern title by Euan Dickson-Earle. Clarricoats then raced to fourth place in the 60m flat in a personal best time of 7.44s.

The full results of the championships had not been published by the time the Gazette went to press. For all the Thurrock Harrier results, plus other athletes from the borough, see next week’s paper.

For all athletics see Friday's THURROCK GAZETTE