Story By Bjorn Jansen
Some athletes arrive quietly, with little fanfare, but all with the right ingredients. For Holly Townsend, joining SpeedPro in March marked the beginning of a new chapter, which has already produced impressive results. Holly has gone from a promising school runner to a serious competitor on the county stage in weeks. Her progression over the 800m has been nothing short of remarkable.
Holly Townsend Joins SpeedPro and Begins Her Athletics Journey
When she first began training with SpeedPro, Holly brought natural speed, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn. She didn’t have race experience or specific 800m conditioning yet. Her school time earlier this year stood at 2:36, a solid effort for someone still new to structured athletics. But there were clear signs that she could go much faster with targeted training.
Since joining the squad, Holly has responded brilliantly to the demands of our middle-distance programme. Each week has brought new challenges with pace awareness, lactic tolerance, and technical refinement, and she’s shown up ready to improve each time. As the spring season progressed, her training sessions became more consistent, her stride more controlled, and her confidence began to grow.
Fast Progress: Holly’s 800m Time Drops by 12 Seconds
That growth came to life at the 2025 Surrey County Track and Field Championships, where Holly produced a huge personal best of 2:24.39 in the U17 800m. It was her first major competition, and she rose to the occasion with calm focus and determination. To drop over 12 seconds from her previous best in such a short timeframe reflects her mindset and the quality of work she’s put in over the last two months.
The performance was even more impressive, considering this was only her second competitive 800m race. She held her position well through the first lap, navigated a tightly packed field, and finished with strength in the home straight, executing a smart, composed race plan that reflects her maturity as a developing athlete.
The Season Ahead: What’s Next for Holly Townsend?
At SpeedPro, we look at the bigger picture. Progress isn’t just about time; it’s about attitude, coachability, and building the good habits that lead to long-term success. Holly is ticking every one of those boxes. Her improvements are the result of physical training and embracing feedback, learning from race experiences, and applying each lesson with purpose.
Looking ahead, we believe there’s much more to come. With continued exposure to high-quality training and competition, Holly has the potential to drop her time even further this season. The 2:20 barrier is well within reach, and with her current trajectory, it’s only a matter of when, not if.
This summer will bring new tests and faster races, but one thing is already clear: Holly Townsend is on the rise. And if the start of her athletics journey is anything to go by, the future is very bright.