Triple success for Newbury Athletes at British Championships

Newbury’s young athletes secured a trio of medals at the British Athletics Championships in Manchester last weekend.

20-year-old Ben East came second in the Javelin Throw, finishing just behind the experienced Joe Dunderdale on a rainy weekend in Manchester.

A throw of 74.15 metres was the second furthest of East’s career, with a silver medal marking another excellent year of progress for the Loughborough University student.

Elsewhere, 24-year-old Izzy Fry was leading on the final lap of the 5000m, closely trailed by Euros teammate Hannah Nuttall and experienced Verity Ockenden.

As the trio closed in on the finish, Fry glanced either side of her to see the two athletes turning on the afterburners.

As they took off in the final sprint to the line, Fry was unable to keep touch, settling for third on the final lap.

A bronze medal is still an incredibly positive end to the season, with Fry having set multiple personal bests, reached the European Championships and set a sub-15 minute time for the first time.

There was another silver medal for 22-year-old Charlotte Payne, who claimed second place in the Women’s Hammer Throw.

The young Newbury athlete finished behind Anna Purchase by a slim margin, adding yet another high finish to a successful year and marking another step forward as the two time British Champion adapts to a recent cochlear implant operation.