North Norfolk Harriers' young athletes dug deep and found gold at the Norfolk Track and Field Championships the UEA SportsPark.
The Harriers featured in many of the track and field events, with plenty of podium finishes, a decent sprinkling of gold and even some records broken.
Daniel Coles (206 points) and Ruben Xuereb (202), set the ball rolling after taking third and fourth places in the U11 boys QuadKids event — a series of jump, throw and run disciplines. Eloise Edridge bagged 173 in the U11 girls' event and secured fifth place while new Harrier Taylor Mckean competed well.
U13 boy George Coles made an impression with an impressive silver in the shot (13.45m) and bronze in the hammer (11.60m).
On the track, U13 boy Toby Stewart showed huge composure in the 1,500m when he hit the front with 800m to go to take gold in five minutes and six seconds. Matthew Benson, in his first year on the track, stormed the final lap to nick fifth. U13 girl Esme Jonas finished a creditable eighth in the 1,500m going one better the following day in the 800m. Her cousin Ruby Love, tested herself over the 70m hurdles and did superbly to qualify for the final where she finished seventh.
Also making his debut on the track was U15 boy Josh Keeble, who picked up his first county medal by battling to claim bronze in an exciting 300m final and in 41.9 seconds.
Henry Jonas took a gutsy bronze in a thrilling U15 boys' 1,500m (4:36.9) before retaining gold in the 800m (2:17.4). There was a fantastic reward for Brad Keay, who worked hard for his bronze in 22:4.
Billy Life had to settle for fourth and Innes O'Malley sixth in the U15 boys 1,500m. Innes, however, took silver in the 3,000m on day two, clocking 10:9.5. Another first-timer, U15 boy Angus White, finished sixth in the 800m and 13th in the 1,500m.
U15 girl Hattie Reynolds was a runaway winner in the 3,000m in a quick 10:46.1 in her first track competition. Eliska Watling, also U15 girls, finished fourth in the 300m and took an excellent bronze in the 800m (2:31.2).
Two county records tumbled in the U17 girls' distance events. Harriers' star Abi Durand ducked under 10 minutes in the 3,000m (9:59) leaving the opposition almost a minute behind, while in the 1,500m the previous day Abi raced home in 4:44.1, both results establishing championship and county records. U17 boy Sam Cooper's first appearance saw him earn fourth spot in the 800m in 2:28.9.
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