COLNE VALLEY pupil Jess Hirst had a day to remember at the Yorkshire Track and Field Championships – winning two gold medals and a silver.
The Under 15 Halifax Harrier’s haul was reward for a tough winter of training.
Hirst showed her class against an 11-strong entry in the discus by winning with a throw of 26.74m – over 5m in front of her training partner Megan Ascough, who gained the silver.
Shot putt was next up, with a field of 12 competing, and Hirst opened with a throw of 9.07m.
It wasn’t until the third round that this throw was bettered by Doncaster’s Kelsey Wilson (9.10), but Hirst hit back in the next round with a massive 9.50 to claim another gold. Wilson finished second and Ascough third.
Having not competed in Javelin this season, nothing was expected from Hirst in the event and, subsequently, the relaxed attitude going into her final competition was very evident.
Surprisingly, however, a number of opponents had poor throws and struggled to match their capabilities, leaving Hirst to pick up a silver with 22.57m. Megan Sanders of Leeds won.
Hirst’s focus now moves to the discus and the Schools’ Championships, initially the West Yorkshire Schools’ and then hopefully the English at the Alexander Stadium Birmingham (if selected for West Yorkshire).
Hirst was ninth in that event last season and will be looking to improve. She will then look to concentrate more on hammer in the remainder of the season – her best event.
