Photos are with credit to Gary Mitchell

The 100th edition of the English Schools Track and Field Championships took place in a blisteringly hot Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, for the 2025 edition. Blackheath & Bromley Harriers Athletics club had 26 athletes selected to represent various counties, with many more making the reserve list, an achievement in itself.

The weather was perfect for spectators, but probably a little bit too hot for the athletes, but this didn’t stop them producing some outstanding, record-breaking performances.

• 9 individual Gold medals
• 4 individual Bronze medals
• 2 relay Gold medals
• 2 relay Bronze medals
• 3 England call ups
• Multiple finalists
• 2 x 2nd claim Golds
• 3 x 2nd claim Silvers

Junior girls
Alessia Scala (Kent – coach John Bancroft) continued her fine comeback after injury to comfortably win high jump gold.

Ella Brooker (Kent -John Wakeman) chose a great time to vault a PB, whilst winning the pole vault gold.

Matilda Murray (Kent – Paul Austridge/ Kieran Daly) shook off a heavy fall in the week, to easily qualify for the 75 meter Hurdles final and was a close fourth in the final but had the consolation of winning relay bronze with her with Kent team.

Junior boys
Piers Spencer – Simms, (Surrey) continued his winning ways winning double gold in the 100m, clocking 10.93 and the 4 x 100 with his Surrey teammates.

Jericho Senior (Kent – Clem Leon) ran a superb new PB in his 300m heat to qualify for the final, where he fought hard to win a fine bronze. Jericho was part of the Kent relay team also winning bronze.

The inter boys and girls had the added bonus of earning an England call up if placed first or second!

Inter boys
Joe Scanes (Kent -Mike Reeves). Joe ran a comfortable heat in the hot conditions and then dominated his final, taking gold and collecting his England kit for next weekends schools international.

  Joe (41) on the way to his win
Ben O’Grady (Kent – Mike Reeves). Ben, in his first English School finals took full of advantage, taking the lead in this tough event and battled well to secure a fine bronze in a new personal best time.
New recruit Jomiloju Hughes was a good fourth in the triple jump final.

Joseph Hill (Kent – Mike Reeves) won his 3K heat comfortably and ran hard in a tough final but it’s challenging running two 3k’s back to back, in those very hot conditions.

Oliver Ward (Kent -Mike Reeves) has had a great season Steeplechasing and ran hard in this tough event in the final, making a great account of himself.

Alexander D’Cruz (London -Jay Galley). Alexander has impressed this year making the English Schools finals in his first year, in this new event for him. Alex was very unlucky not to make the final, despite running a new personal best.

Charlie Platt (Kent -John Wakeman) Former ESAA Champion Charlie was competing in his fourth English finals and comfortably cleared his opening height but unfortunately didn’t progress further.

Troy Ogedengbe. (Kent) had qualified for the 200 meter, but was able to run due to other sports commitments.

Inter girls
Emilia Adese (London – Herbie Kuenstlinger) went into the games with the added pressure of being number one in the country but was unaffected, as she put the 3K shot 15.53m to not only win gold but also to secure her England selection for next weekend international.

Elsa Pawson (Kent -John Wakeman) – Having won the English schools before, Elsa was able use this experience to win once, again securing a fabulous gold and the added bonus of collecting her England kit ready for next weekends school international.

Florence Holman (Surrey- Herbie Kuenstlinger). Florence sustained a slight injury at the Surrey champs, not ideal preparation for these champs but still recorded an impressive 6th place finish, not far off the medals or her best.

Cheyanne Nkeita (Kent -John Blackie). Cheyanne ran well in the 100m heat just missing out making the final.

Nevie Tamblyn (Cornwall -Ian Dibbens) was selected for the 200m but unfortunately couldn’t compete due to other commitments.

Senior boys
Rayhan Mourtada (Kent -John Blackie). Rayhan qualified comfortably in the heat to qualify for the final. The final was always going to be rapid as Rayhan was up against his county and national rival and both went head-to-head and could only be separated by a 1/10th sec at the finish, with Rayhan winning gold and breaking the 43-year-old championship best performance.

  Rayhan (42) on his way to the championship win

Max Clark (Kent -John Blackie) – Max, on his come back trail after injury won his heat and impressively secured bronze in a rapid final.

Jed Starvis (Kent -Mike Reeves) – Jed a former English schools finalist ran hard in his 1500 heat just missing out on making the final.

Oliver Driscoll (Kent) was selected for the 200m but unfortunately picked up an injury pre championship and was unable to compete.

Senior ladies.
Daisy Snell (Kent – Guy Spencer) Daisy had a memorable English Schools. It was her final English School’s champs, her 18th birthday and she was given the honour of captaining the Kent schools team and to top it off, won gold by over 30cm, an end to a fabulous schools athletic career.

Qi-Chi Ukpai (Kent -Guy Spencer) Qi- Chi had a superb triple jump competition, winning gold and making that four consecutive years of winning English schools title, a very impressive achievement.

Madeleine Dodds, (Surrey-John Wakeman) Maddie, in her second English schools finals, vaulted superbly, securing an impressive bronze.

Gracelyn Kendeck (London -Roy Dickens). In Gracelyn’s first year over 400m hurdles she won her heat to qualify for the final, where she battled hard, placing 4th just outside the medals, in a time very close to her best, but was consoled helping her county relay team win a fine gold

Second claim athletes

A few of our second claim athletes excelled at the champs with:

• Izzy Rae (Berkshire -Nathan Standing) winning gold over the 80m hurdles a week after breaking the British record, whilst competing for BBHAC at the YDL, in the rain!
• Divine Iheme (Oxfordshire- Nikruka Iheme) looked effortless through his heat and final of the 100m, clocking an impressive 10.41 to take gold.
• Olivier Coulibaly winning silver in the inter boys discus.
• Aaron Axtel winning silver in the inter boys hammer.
• Ruby Rogers winning silver in the inter girls 100m.
• Aidan Williams was 3rd in his 400m hurdle heat, qualifying him for the final.

Report from Paul Austridge