English Schools Athletics Championship 2026

Fourteen Notts AC athletes were selected by their local county school’s athletics associations in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire for this year’s English School’s Track and Field championships held on Friday 10^th and Saturday 11^th at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. 

Pride of place of place must go to Summer Biggs in the Junior Girl’s Shot and Gabriel Oguagwu in the Intermediate Boy’s 200m; both gaining podium positions.

Multi-talented Summer representing Derbyshire showed what a gutsy competitor she is when her throw of 11.60m in the last round moved her from third to first to secure the gold medal. 

Gabriel after winning his heat in the 200m in the morning session on Saturday came back for the afternoon final running a storming race to finish second gaining the silver medal with a time of 21.70s. His outstanding performance earned him his first international vest for the SIAB match between the four home countries in Belfast on Saturday 18^th July.  

The rest of the club’s representatives performed to the best of their ability and gained valuable experience in what is one of the largest youth athletic competitions in the world.

Here is a summary of their performances: 

Junior Girls

Abigail Sheppard – Howe, 200m, Heat 4 (5^th – 26.34s) 

Annabel McGough, Long Jump (11^th – 5.19m) 

Intermediate Girls

Betsy Wilton, Triple Jump (6^th – 11.36m)

Senior Girls

Nina McEachran, High Jump (6^th – 1.66m)

Isla Hiscocks, Long Jump (9^th – 5.21m) 

Tami Adesina, 200m, Heat 1 (6^th - 25.79s)

Intermediate Boys

Sebastian Goodwin, 100m, Heat 2 (7^th – 11.17s)

Ryan Ghai, 110m hurdles, Heat 5 (7^th – 15.74s)

Senior Boys

Euan Fraser, 400m hurdles, Final (7^th – 57.54s) 

Chibunna Obirieze, 200m Heat (6^th – 22.35s)

Will Bailey, 800m Heat 2 (9^th - 1:56.64) 

Finally spare a thought for Notts AC second claim athlete Joe Moss. Joe suffered from heat exhaustion during his warm up and had to withdraw from the Intermediate Boys 200m. Later in the day the Medics allowed him to run the mixed 4 x 100m relay, so he got his opportunity to take part. He anchored the team to 4^th place in their heat. 

JMc 19-7-26

Postscript. 

Gabriel placed 4^th in the 200m at SIAB – 22.03s