The curtain came down on the European Junior Championships this Sunday evening with medal success for one of the Herts Phoenix contingent in the GB squad.  In what had been a frustrating championships for the Club’s athletes, Nathan Wake, still 16, who just over a fortnight ago had finished a superb, but agonising, 4th in the World Youth (U18) Championships in Italy, turned his disappointment to joy in winning a gold medal with the GB 4x400m relay team.

Following Jodie Williams and Nathan Wake's superb performances at the World Youth Championships recently, Herts Phoenix athletes continue their exploits on the international scene this coming week at the European Junior Championships at Novi Sad, Serbia.  We have Laura Wake in the womens 400m, Stephanie Gaynor in the womens 100m Hurdles and Jodie & Nathan taking places in this older age group for the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay respectively. Good luck to them all.  Click here to view the official web site for these Championships which start on Thursday 23rd July.

What a fantastic five days at the World Youth Championships, with Herts Phoenix & GB superbly represented by Jodie Williams and Nathan Wake.  Welwyn Garden City’s Jodie Williams fulfilled her undoubted potential by becoming the world champion over, first 100m, then 200m in Bressanone in the Italian Alps, a feat never achieved before let alone by a 15 year old running against 16 and 17 yr olds.  Hoping to follow in the footsteps of gold medallist Asha Phillip and bronze medallist Ashlee Nelson from these championships two years ago, Jodie came into the event as the youngest but potentially fastest of the bunch.  Her main opposition was going to come from team mate Shaunna Thompson, American Ashton Purvis and US Virgin Islander Allison Peter.

Two of Herts Phoenix most successful and dependable athletes signed off from their involvement with the English Schools Championships this weekend by winning their events and helping Hertfordshire take the relay gold medal into the bargain.