A first for Stockport Athletics Coaching!
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
On Wednesday 19th September four members of our group went over to Doncaster Athletics Club and competed in 1500m/2000m steeplechases for Stockport Harriers.
The training group has got to this point by following a LATE SPECIALISATION, LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT Model. We develop ALL 5 fitness components simultaneously with young developing athletes.
Harry Miller-Reedman (the ONLY U17 to compete in an Octathlon for the whole of the Greater Manchester Region; SHAC's number 1 Javelin thrower ........etc etc) was putting his endurance and hurdling skills to the test and came through this excellent experience & challenge very well.
Lauren Burgess (an U17 who throws U20 Javelin for the club at YDL, is the current Greater Manchester U17 Discus Gold medalist, has 7 UK rankings in very different events .......etc etc) achieved a UK ranking(109th) from this first time of competing in the event, in her first year as an U17.
The coaching group is very proud of these two young athletes who competed in this event as multi-eventers not specialised endurance runners.
Our U20 athletes come from two different backgrounds and were competing in the 2000m Steeplechase. Sam Johnson has a multi-eventing background (Derbyshire's Number 1 Octathlete last year; still competes in a number of events for SHAC at YDL; but his current main focus is the 400m Hurdles where in his first season as an U20 he was ranked 3rd in the Northwest and 52nd in the UK). He took this tough endurance challenge on, for all the right reasons, with great positive attitude. He continues to leave all options/opportunities open to himself for the future. Luke Farrant joined us just a year ago having specialised early in endurance at another club. As a coaching group we are trying to broaden his opportunities for the future and because of his open-mindedness, willingness to learn new skills and great attitude, he is responding extremely well. Due to the Speed work he has done since joining the group, he has a UK ranking in the 400m, he is SHAC's fastest 800m/1500m U20 runner and because of the hurdling work that has been introduced, he achieved an excellent, first time, UK ranking (62nd) in the Steeplechase - in his first year as an U20! Lots more to come from this young athlete as his Speed, strength, hurdling skills etc etc continue to be developed.
Stockport Athletics Coaching remain an independent, self sufficient, self funded training group with it's own unique training philosophy. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those who support the group for all that we stand for - the parent group; the coaching group (Crazy legs fitness being an inetegral part of it); Stockport Grammar School; Inspire Gym and Lifeleisure. Finally, as it is Steeplechase that we are celebrating successes in, a special mention to Bashir Hussain who continues to support and inspire the young athletes within our group in this event and across all that we do.
