1st-2nd July 2011 : English Schools Championships :
Gateshead International Stadium was the host for the 4th time since 2004 to the English Schools Track & Field Championships. The 81st ESAA Championships, which is the biggest of its kind in Europe, involved 1800 school-age pupils and 500 officials. All athletes, who are drawn from the 44 English Counties, are the best in their age group, having fulfilled stringent qualification standards and survived several rounds at county & inter-county level. The prestigious event was televised on the Sky network.
The Kent County sixty-strong team included six Dartford Harriers A.C members. Expectations were high, based on a previous excellent record at the Games. However this was not to be, as accident and injury prevailed.
Under 17 Hannah Searing, competing in the hammer throw, had a disappointing debut at the Games after falling during her first attempt. She then failed to make the final pool of 8 throwers. In the same age group, Gemma Brown, last year's U/15 discus champion, made the final pool, finishing in 8th with 32.93m.
Also making her debut at the ESAA, U/17 Lucy Hickmott ran well in the 300m hurdles, finishing 3rd in her heat in 46.28s. Hickmott came away with a bronze medal as part of the 4 x 100m. squad, who produced a National Standard time of 48.35s.
U/17 high jumper David Hall, though ranked in the UK top 6, struggled with a back injury and could only manage 11th place, with 1.87m. Alex Bell, now in the senior mens', and an ES finalist last year, was 5th in his heat of the 200m in 22.62. However, he was in the 4 x 100m team, who having thought they were in the final, were later disqualified for a faulty baton change.
Senior lady Samantha Brown, a previous medalist at the ES, qualified easily for the 400m hurdles. Disaster struck in the final when Brown crashed onto the track after hitting the last hurdle, finishing 8th. The bad luck continued, when the 4 x 100m squad, of which she was part, were disqualified for dropping the baton.
