Teenagers sparkle on county duty

James Bongart, George Grant and Jessica Hurley produced top-class performances to lift county titles in their specialist events.

Bongart, 17, took county gold for the third year running by taking the Essex under-20 javelin title with a throw of 51.17m. The Woodford Green competitor had previously achieved a near-PB throw of 52.96 at the British Athletics League in Eton to move to 16th in the National under-20 rankings.

Grant, 15, achieved a personal best height of 3.80m to take the Middlesex under-17 pole vault title in Lee Valley, while Shaftesbury Barnet teammate Hurley, 14, was more than two seconds clear of the field in winning the Herts under-15 300m event in 42.45. Earlier in the week she had set a new personal best 800m time of 2:22.30 in Watford.

Elsewhere, Lia Radus finished runner-up at the Middlesex under-13 1,500m. Anna Barnett impressed in the Kent under-17 discus and the hammer events — finishing third and fourth respectively. Rebecca Hurley recorded fourth and fifth at the Herts under-17 400m and 300m hurdles, while Allana Edwards took fourth in the under-15 Cheshire and Greater Manchester 300m hurdles.