LONG-SERVING and popular team manager Dave Turner has praised the Avon athletes who won the county’s first senior girls’ team medal at the English Schools’ Combined Events Championships.
Inspired by 17-year-old Stroud and South Gloucestershire College Filton student Jenna Blundell, who made the podium with an individual bronze, the Avon trio won the silver medals after a great contest against west country rivals Somerset.
Avon team managers with the senior girls squad (L to R); Sue Turner, Rebecca Ousby, Ken Holmes, Jenna Blundell, Julie Alexander, Renee Jelf and Dave Turner
“The girls were actually in the gold medal position going into the seventh and final event, the 800m, but Somerset had a really strong runner and that just made the difference as they beat us by just 40 points, which equates to just a few seconds,” said Turner.
“So there is a slight tinge of disappointment but not much of one because that is the first time Avon’s senior girls have won a team medal so it was an historic moment for the county and an outstanding achievement.
“The girls performed brilliantly and it was a special weekend.”
Senior girls heptathlon: 1 Natasha Smith (Glos) 5123pts; 2 Emily Race (Notts) 5055; 3 Jenna Blundell (Avon) 5014 (100H: 14.27; HJ: 1.68; Shot: 8.83; 200m: 26.52; LJ: 5.89; Jav: 26.29; 800: 2:26.58).
14 Rebecca Ousby 3565pts (18.18secs; 1.50m; 8.95m; 26.89secs; 4.70m; 10.75m; 2:30.00); 25 Renee Jelf (Avon) 2882pts (19.89secs; 1.56m; 6.31m; 29.20secs; 4.45m; 11.07m; 2:45.55).
Teams: 1 Somerset 11,501pts; 2 Avon 11,461