Story By Coach Bjorn Jansen
The English Schools Championships is one of the most prestigious events in the junior athletics calendar. This year, three SpeedPro athletes earned their place on that stage. Thomas Whorton, Dillon Warner and Neva Jansen each brought their best across a demanding two-day competition. They represented their schools and counties with distinction. Here is how the weekend unfolded.
Thomas Whorton Reaches the Intermediate Boys' 800m Final
Thomas Whorton was first into action on Friday, lining up in the Intermediate Boys' 800m heats. He ran a composed and controlled race. He finished second in his heat with a time of 1:53.93, which allowed him to qualify comfortably for Saturday's final.
The final itself was a tight, tactical affair, and Thomas finished sixth in a highly competitive field. Reaching an English Schools final as an intermediate athlete is a genuine achievement. Additionally, the experience of racing at that level will be invaluable as he continues to develop. Combined with his recent club record at the Inter-counties of 153.80, it has been a strong period for Thomas in the 800m.
Dillon Warner Runs Two Personal Bests in the Junior Boys' 300m
Dillon Warner produced one of the standout individual stories of the weekend. Competing in the Junior Boys' 300m for Kent Schools, he won his heat on Saturday morning with a personal best of 36.31. Just four hours later, Dillon returned for the final and ran even faster. He crossed the line in 36.29 for another personal best and sixth place.
Running two personal bests on the same day at the English Schools Championships, separated by just a few hours, is a remarkable achievement. Dillon stuck to his race model throughout, trusted the process, and was rewarded with two of the best performances of his young career. That kind of consistency under pressure is exactly what championship athletics demands.
Neva Jansen Reaches the Top Eight at Her Fourth English Schools
For Neva Jansen, the English Schools Championships have become familiar territory. This was her fourth appearance at the competition. She brought all of that experience to bear in the Senior Girls' Discus Final on Saturday.
Ranked ninth going in, Neva faced a genuine challenge to make the top eight cut after three rounds. She met that challenge, doing enough to qualify for the final phase of the competition. Then, in the fifth round, she produced a throw of 36.60 metres to finish sixth. It was a performance built on composure and consistency, qualities that have defined her at the championship level. To reach the top eight from the ninth seed, and then improve on that with a sixth-place finish, reflects exactly the kind of competitor Neva has become.
A Weekend to Be Proud Of
The English Schools Championships ask a great deal of young athletes. The fields are deep, the pressure is real, and the margins are often fine. Thomas, Dillon and Neva each showed the ability to perform when it counts. Each of them leaves the competition with something to build on.
We are proud of every athlete who represented their school and county at the weekend. These performances reflect the work being done every day in training. Moreover, they point to what is possible in the seasons ahead.
To find out more about training with SpeedPro, visit our coaching programmes page. Learn how we prepare athletes for competition at every level.
