Border Harriers athletes take gold in bumper weekend

Freddie Strong, 15, from Keswick and a member of Border Harriers & AC, claimed gold in the England Age Group U16 Octathlon in Bedford with a UK-leading total of 4,916 points.

His score not only secured first place but also set a new championship best.

Day one of the competition saw Mr Strong clock 12.35 seconds in the 100m for 10th place, but he quickly climbed the rankings with a 6.17m long jump.

Freddie during the pole vault event (Image: Supplied)

He went on to achieve a personal best of 3.35m in the pole vault, and a 52.15m throw in the javelin put him in third place at the end of day one.

On day two, he ran 14.84 seconds in the 100m hurdles and threw 37.16m in the discus, maintaining third position.

A winning leap of 1.94m in the high jump moved him into the lead, and he secured victory with a controlled 1,000m run in 3 minutes 8.91 seconds.

Second place went to Arthur Rogers of Brighton and Hove AC, while Story Bundy of St Augustine & Canterbury Schools took third.

Freddie Strong has previously won national medals in both indoor and outdoor combined events, as well as individual competitions.

Freddie Strong won the event (Image: Supplied)

Earlier this summer, he took bronze in the U17 high jump at the English Schools Championships with a jump of 1.94m.

He also won the North West of England Schools U17's Octathlon, qualifying for next month’s final in Bedford with the Cumbria team.

The weekend also saw success north of the border at the Scottish U16 and U20 Championships in Grangemouth.

Callum James, another Border Harriers athlete, took gold in the U20 javelin with a throw of 50.50m using the 800g senior implement.

Callum James (Image: Supplied)

Callum has previously medalled at these championships and also secured gold at the North of England Championships.

Amelia Fisher, also from Keswick and a member of Border Harriers, won gold in the U16 hammer throw with a personal best of 42.10m.

At just 13, her throw is believed to be the best by a girl of her age in the UK this season.

She also took silver in the U16 discus with a throw of 27.36m.

Callum James & Amelia Fisher out side of the Grangemouth Stadium with their medals. (Image: Supplied)

The Bedford competition also hosted the UK Senior Para Championships.

Anna Nicholson won both the shot put and discus in her category.

The achievements highlight the breadth of talent emerging from Border Harriers & AC.

Their performances come ahead of the Lesley Little and Matthew James Memorial Hammer competition, taking place on September 5.