A record number turned out to a Life Leisure sporting event at Stockport’s Woodbank Park, established to showcase the country’s best young athletic talent.
Over 160 up-and-coming athletes, aged between 7 and 15, took part in the Life Leisure Young Athletes Quadrathlon.
Delivered by host athletics club Stockport Harriers for the past 11 years, the event has become a key date in the youth athletics calendar. Each athlete competes in four individual events – a throw, a sprint a jump and a middle distance run – and receives points for each. The overall top three athletes in each age group receive awards.
In addition to the record breaking attendance, the Life Leisure Quadrathlon also saw some record breaking performances – many of which came from talented local athletes.
Megan Lasseter (Stockport Harriers) became the first athlete in an Under 15 category to jump over 5ft, and went on to finish 3rd in the Quadrathlon behind fellow Stockport Harriers talent Holly Aitchison and 1st placed Praise Owoeye from Sale Harriers.
Abraham Fobil (Diane Modahl Sport Foundation) took a full second off the U13 boys 100m to run 12.6 seconds with Benjamin Verbickas of Crewe going on to win the overall title in that age group.
Mike Frost, Event Director and Stockport Harriers Coach said: “The Young Athletes Quadrathlon is always a wonderful and inspirational event – it’s so great to see athletic talent of the future in action. I think the fact we saw two records broken on the day says a lot about the standard, especially given the weather conditions!
“Working with Life Leisure to hold the event also meant that the athletes, and indeed their coaches and supporters, really benefitted from a fantastic atmosphere – the spectator stand was extremely lively! The day was special for all involved and also waved the flag for athletics here in the North West.”
The Life Leisure Young Athletes Quadrathlon also included age category relays and a team event, where collective scores from members of the same club where tallied for overall team champions. Clubs involved on the day came from areas including Macclesfield, Bolton, Sale, Oldham, Crewe, Preston, Manchester and Warrington.
Life Leisure CEO Malcolm McPhail said: “As a former athlete, this event really chimes with me – the buzz and motivation you get from competing in organised events as a youngster really is hard to beat. It’s so important to support young sporting talent and I’m delighted that Life Leisure could do just that with the Qaudrathlon.”