Four Scunthorpe athletes gain indoor medals

SCUNTHORPE and District AC athletes had the chance to test their progress in the first major indoor competition of the winter.

The winter months predominantly signify a time for hard work on the track and in the gym for the athletes.

Competing in the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, this was a welcome distraction from their intense training.

The best athletes from across the north of England provided tough competition for the 12 strong Scunthorpe contingent, but they certainly didn't disappoint.

Nathan Togun, who now trains at Loughborough in his preferred sprints discipline, actually competed in the under-20 men's shot putt, and a personal best of 12.85 metres secured the silver medal.

Although Nathan is training very hard for the 100 metres, he has enjoyed more success in recent times in the throwing event, being ranked 16th in the UK in 2012 as an under-17 shot putter.

Freya Bradshaw ran a huge indoor personal best for an excellent bronze medal in the under-20 women's 400m with a time of 58.20 seconds.

Freya still has two more seasons as an under-20 athlete and her time in Sheffield bodes very well for a successful 2013.

Two more medals were achieved by male triple jumpers.

Tomas Andrew, who competes regularly in throwing, sprints and horizontal jumps, took the bronze in the under-20 men's age group with a jump of 11.35 metres.

Josh Bones completed the list of medallists with a bronze in the senior men's event with 13.87m.

Josh used the meeting as a chance to work on his technique, and despite a very short run-up, he still managed a podium finish.

Nadina Skinner and Emily Strickland were the busiest of the club's athletes, both turning out in three different events.

Nadina achieved a personal best in the under-17 women's 60m with a time of 9.12 seconds, finished fourth in her heat of the 300m in 46.18 seconds and came eighth in the 800m in two minutes 39 seconds.

Emily managed fifth place in the under-15 girls' 60m hurdles with a 10.04 seconds PB.

She also made the semi-finals of the 60m with a time of 8.52 seconds and the 200m in 27.64 seconds.

Stephanie O'Connor recorded a fourth place finish behind Freya in the under-20 women's 400m in a time of 59.95 seconds, and the Harmes brothers were also challenging themselves in the longer sprints.

Daniel, competing in the senior men's age group, ran two very tough 400m races and secured a sixth place semi-final finish, despite a slower time than his heat of 52.91 seconds.

He completed his weekend's work with a time of 23.94 seconds in the 200m.

Younger brother Andrew managed a creditable 58.28 seconds in his heat of the under-20 men's 200m.

Completing the club representation were three long jumpers.

Ellie Standerline followed up a difficult 2012 with an excellent PB of 4.90m in the under-17 women's competition for seventh place in a large field.

Rob Smith and Chris Jones, at opposite ends of the under-20 men's age range, both performed admirably.

Rob jumped a distance of 6.24m for a fifth place finish. And despite two no jumps, Chris, in his first season as a long jumper, was unlucky not to record a competitive distance.

Some of the club's athletes will challenge themselves in further competitions during the remainder of the indoor season, whilst others will be back into hard training.

If effort and dedication is an indicator of success, then many of them can look forward to a great 2013.