Story By Athlete - Neva Jansen
SpeedPro athletes had another great weekend at Lee Valley for the 2026 South of England Indoor Championships. With three medals, five athletes reaching finals, and three personal bests, it was a highly successful championship for the group and a strong sign of what is to come this indoor season.
Medal Highlights from the Championships
The standout performances came from the medal winners, starting with Thomas Whorton in the U17 800m. Having already become the South of England Indoor 1500m Champion earlier in the season, Thomas backed this up with another outstanding performance. He won his heat comfortably in 2:00.06 to secure his place in the final, where he produced a superb run to win gold in a new personal best of 1:58.14. After a challenging year returning from injury, this double South of England title reflects just how hard Thomas has worked. Everyone at SpeedPro is excited to see how he performs at the Indoor Nationals next month.
Another medal-winning performance came from Tommaso Crosara in the U17 400m. After claiming double U15 gold over 300m at Nationals and English Schools in 2025, he stepped up in distance to open his 2026 season in style. Tommaso ran 53.37 in the heat, followed by 51.42 in the semi-final, before producing a strong silver medal performance of 51.08 in the final. With limited recovery between rounds, this was a true reflection of the work he has put in over the winter. Alongside Thomas, Tommaso will also compete at the Indoor Nationals, and it will be exciting to see how he progresses.
SpeedPro also celebrated a medal from Soraya Stevens in the U17 triple jump. Soraya secured a bronze medal with a big personal best jump of 10.53m. While SpeedPro does not coach her in the jumps, the group fully supports her wider athletic development.
Strong Performances in the U17 800m
In the U17 800m, Beatrice Eminson, Holly Townsend, Freya McAndie, and Maya Lepine all competed in a highly competitive field. All four athletes ran solid races, with Beatrice and Holly progressing through to the final. In the final, Beatrice finished fifth and Holly sixth, narrowly missing out on medals but gaining valuable championship experience.
Personal Bests Across the Sprints
There were also strong performances in the sprint events. One of SpeedPro's newer athletes, Soren Kerner, competed in the U17 400m and ran a two-second personal best of 54.12, placing him just outside the national standard. With continued progress, there is confidence he will achieve it during the outdoor season. Lia Clements also produced an excellent personal best of 28.95 in the U15 200m, while Amelia Barnes delivered solid performances in both the U17 60m and 200m.
A Strong Platform for the Season Ahead
Overall, the championships were a great success for SpeedPro. If this is how the group has started the 2026 indoor season, there is plenty more to look forward to in the months ahead.
