A TEENAGER from Barnsley took silver at the English Schools Championships in Birmingham over the weekend.
Vanessa Ndambakuwa, who attends Holy Trinity School and runs for Barnsley AC, was representing South Yorkshire in the under 17 200m.
The 15-year-old from Grimethorpe ran a personal best of 24.57 – just 0.03 seconds behind the winner. She will now compete for England under 17s this weekend in Wales – her first international event.
“I am really, really happy,” said Vanessa who trains five times a week and is a former Yorkshire and Northern champion.
“I got the fastest time in the heats then I had a good lane for the final and ran well again.
“I didn’t expect to come second.
“I wasn’t one of the fastest going in and it’s only my first year in this age group.
“I would love to keep running and hopefully one day compete in the Olympics. I only started in 2022 when my teachers told me I should join a club.”
Teacher Linzi Malcolm added: “Vanessa is a role model in school, the way she is with younger students. She helped run sports day and she is amazing at leading. Kids really look up to her.”
Penistone Footpath Runner Graihagh Turner also represented South Yorkshire and reached the final of the intermediate girls’ 1500 metres in which she came eighth.
At the Yorkshire Veterans Championships in Sheffield, Penistone’s Dawn Broom picked up two golds and a silver. She collected gold in the 1,500m in 6-10-79 and 100m in 16-60. Her silver came in the 800m with 2-59-44. All of Dawn’s results were new club records.
Dawn’s husband John picked up gold in the 3,000m with 11-48-46.
The second race of the Spencers Dash series, which is a 3.8 mile race organised by Barnsley AC that starts and finishes in Barugh Green, took place last Thursday. Barnsley AC had four of the first five finishers. Scott Hinchcliffe won in a time of 19-42. Second, fourth and fifth places went to Jack Bellamy, Gavin Walker and Adam Lavelle respectively who all set course PBs. Vicky Shaw was second woman with a course PB of 24-37 while Kerry Storrar was first over50 woman. First Penistone runner back was Andrew Heppenstall in 21-35, taking third place overall and first over40 man.
Other notable performances from Penistone runners were Suzanne McGill (first over45 woman), Tony Wright (first over55 man), Simon Pike (second over40 man), Rob Lees (third over45 man) and Shaun Swallow (third over50 man).
Barnsley Harrier Lisa Clarkson finished as first woman overall, with fellow Harriers David Hanks finishing his second race in as many days as first over45 man.
At the four-mile Roche Abbey Dash, first back for Penistone was Peter Beever in 37-18. There were age category wins for Kelvin Bowskill (first over70 man) and Lois Lopez (first over50 woman).
Penistone’s Andrew Pearson set a over60 man club record at the York 5k.
His time was 18-05.
Barnsley AC’s Faye Lund was first over40 woman in 41-04.
On the fells, Penistone had a contingent of runners at the Charlesworth and Chisworth Carnival Fell Race. George Parr clinched third place overall.
Barnsley AC’s Naomi Drakeford finished as first woman at the Walkington 10k and set a course PB of 36-40. Gareth Cooke was fourth overall in a time of 34-42.
At the DonFaster 5k held at Doncaster’s Cycle Hub, Barnsley AC’s Nathan Doy ran a time of 16-54.
Barnsley AC were third in the third match of the Northern Track and Field League Division East Two at Newark.
The women’s team saw under 17 Georgia Smith run a 200m PB of 28.9 while under 20 Emily Richardson set a 800m PB of 2-35.4. Under 17 Olivia Ward jumped 4.53m to set her long jump PB.
Caroline Spensley threw a PB of 5.25m in the shot put. Under 17 Evie Donaldson was first in the 100m with 13.4 while under 17 Amelie Spicer was first in 200m with 27.2.
The men’s team had PBs on the track for Chris Gillott in the 200m (25.3), 800m (1-59.3) and 1500m (4-18.8).
Under 17 Keelan Priestley ran 13.4 for a 100m PB while Joe Cox set a 800m PB of 2-15.3. In the field, Tony Richards-Vardy threw PBs in the discus (13.82m), hammer (9.26m) and javelin (12.66m).
At the Barnsley Harriers Club Mile, Adam Chambers was first man and Stacy Dyson first woman. The next race in the KMR series also took place with Harrier David Hanks second.
