In wet and gloomy conditions, which preceded a six-hour thunder storm of biblical proportions, Thaila-Jade Mason claimed her sixth championship medal and second international of 2024, at the English Schools Heptathlon Championships in Stoke on Trent on 21/22 September.
Her first ever false start in the 80 hurdles did not augur well, but nevertheless she ran 12.25 sec, to place 6th after the first event. A superb high jump with first time clearances up to and including 1.65m (only a centimetre shy of her lifetime best) saw her leap into second place. However, her worst shot putt of the season of only 8.34m dropped her to 4th . With the storm clouds gathering and lightening about to strike, Thaila’s 200m run of 26.50 sec, saw her drop another place, but still within striking distance of the three above her.
Her best event, the long jump, opened the second day, but with conditions as they were, she was limited to just 5.48 metres. However, others were affected to an even greater extent, allowing her to regain second place; but with javelin and 800m metres at which her rivals were much stronger on paper, nothing could be taken for granted and her aim of being in the top four to secure an international vest was by no means certain.
Thaila took a giant step closer, amazing everyone, including herself, and shocking her rivals, when she launched the javelin out to 31.79m - a five and a half metre improvement on her personal best, consolidating her second place and putting herself further ahead.
However, the international place was still by no means certain as she would still have to run a personal best in the 800m to secure it. The recent 800m work she had done at the track and the early morning hill runs whilst on holiday, stood her in good stead. Despite finishing behind her rivals, Thaila’s 2m 31.27 – a six second improvement on earlier in the season - gave her a final score of 4621 points, more than sufficient to cement the silver medal and an England International in Glasgow in November.
Meanwhile, Lois Fordham was competing at the Eastern Counties U15 Pentathlon championships in very wet conditions at Peterborough. She opened with a personal best of 4.00m in the long jump, followed by 14.55 seconds in the 75m hurdles – a huge pb by 2 seconds. Solid performances of 6.75m in shot and 1.35m in high jump added to her points score. Running the 800m in 3.00.76 sec. – an eight second pb – contributed to her total score of 1875 points a massive personal best score by over 300 points for a commendable 13th place overall and Bedfordshire Champion!
