Athletics has gone through something of a radical change as age groups have been adjusted and all athletes who would have competed in under 17 age competitions and below will be impacted. Therefore as an example athletes who were competing as an under 13 year 1 last year will compete as an under 14 year for this track and field season. An athlete who would have competed as an under 13 year 2 last year will this year compete as an under 14 year 2. All of the age groups for under 17 and below will no longer exist.
A small number of Bicester AC athletes blew away the cobwebs at Oxfordshire’s first track and field fixture held last Saturday at Radley. However truth be told most had been busy throughout the winter either competing over cross country or in the indoor sportshall league. Some athletes had combined the two and it was one of those, Charlie Simpson, who made a lightning start to his track and field season. As this was an open meeting athletes compete together and are placed in heats based on previous times. Simpson excelled in the 200m knocking over 2secs off his previous best and setting an EA level 6 time for his age group of 27.25secs in taking first place in his 200m heat. Not content with his 200m effort, Simpson showed his versatility by finishing 2nd in his heat of the 800m in a new best of 2m 34.6secs and putted over 6 metres in his first ever shot competition (6.02m).
Levi Fulcher also competed well in his trio of events setting two new bests. Fulcher set a new best in the discus knocking nearly 2 metres off his best with a throw of 15.69m. He also putted 5.92m in his first attempt at the shot and was not far off his best in the long jump (3.96m). Brendan Kelly putted over 5m outdoors for the first time (5.52m) and was not far off his best in the long jump (3.18m).
Reece Dunwell was busy throughout the afternoon as he took in 4 events in the under 12 quad competition. His best effort was in the long jump where he produced an outstanding effort and new best of 3.24m which was the 3rd best jump in the competition. When the other three events were taken into account he placed 15th in the final quad standings. George Hart made his debut in the 1500 metres steeplechase and did well to win clocking 5mins 18.23secs. Grace Fulcher had a busy afternoon competing in three events. Her best performance was in the shot where she putted a new outside best of 6.65m. She also ran a new best of 15.00secs in the 100m as well as throwing 13.80m in the discus. Bicester’s other female competitor, Maya Korn, made a solid start to her track season with a win in her heat of the 800m (2m 47.41s).