Story By Bjorn Jansen
Last weekend, the SpeedPro competed at the SEAA Track and Field Championships at Crystal Palace, ready to test themselves against some of the best athletes in the South of England. Across the sprints, middle-distance events, and jumps, our athletes delivered personal bests, season's bests, and performances that showed exactly why preparation and mindset matter on championship weekends.
Performances: Progress and Potential from the 800m Squad
Thomas Whorton led the charge for the 800G squad, competing in only his second 800m of the season after a lengthy injury break. Despite not yet being back to complete training, Thomas showed both progression and maturity across two competitive rounds. On Saturday, he produced a season's best of 2:02.20 in windy conditions, earning his spot in the semi-finals on Sunday. Lining up again less than 24 hours later, Thomas delivered another strong run of 2:01.53, closing in on his personal best of 2:00.22 from last season. The signs are clear: Thomas has more to come as the season builds.
Making her championship debut, Holly Townsend impressed in the U17 800m. Still new to the sport, Holly raced confidently through the heats, clocking a 2:24.20 personal best in Sunday's semi-final. Her determined approach and fearless attitude in a competitive field stood out. Holly's growth since joining SpeedPro has been rapid, and her first SEAA Championships was another significant step forward.
In the U15 800m, Beatrice Eminson showed she's steadily moving in the right direction, narrowly missing the final with a strong run of 2:24.66. Beatrice continues to impress with her consistency and commitment. Meanwhile, Sofia Templeton delivered a season's best of 2:37.89, proof that her hard work through the winter is starting to show on the track.
Performances: Sprint Squad Delivers in Championship Conditions
On the sprint side, Tommy Crosara continued to show his class in the U15 300m. As the fastest U15 over 300m in the UK this year, Tommy carried pressure and expectation heading into the weekend. He handled it like a professional. Navigating three rounds across two days, Tommy lay down a sharp 37.00 in the semi-final before lining up against the top three ranked athletes in the UK for Sunday's final. In one of the best championship races to watch, Tommy executed his race plan perfectly, missing out on gold by just two-hundredths of a second with 36.48. It was an exceptional race and a brilliant performance. We're proud of how Tommy carried himself across the weekend, and we know this is just the beginning of his championship journey.
In the 300m, Amelia Barnes clocked another personal best with 44.48 in only her second time over the distance. Freya added to the weekend's success with a competitive 43.73 in the same event.
In the U15 100m, Lia Clements fought into a headwind to run 13.91 for another personal best. In the U17 200m, Leah Olima ran 27.95 in tricky conditions.
Performances: Strength in the Jumps
Soraya Stevens continued her consistent form in the field with a 10.29m performance in the U17 Triple Jump.
Final Word
With personal bests and finals across the board, the Speedpro athletes' weekend demonstrated their commitment, quality, and ambition. More to come.
