Athletics Weekly

Mr H - Great shame, and as you say, must have been a fantastic athlete to have the time, still 30 odd years later. We really never seem to learn about looking after young athletes, at a UKA level, etc. Over the last 5 years alone I've watched several mamazing girls come and go, Sarah Hopkinson and a...

What happened to Jessica Hicks. Two years ago she was running 4.28 as a 13/14 year old, now competing in 300mH - 50 ish and triple jump - circa 10m. Any ideas? I know she moved from Gloucester to Birchfield, now back down south.

I'd agree. I was suggesting maybe they tried to get her involved again later in life. You see lots of gifted young athetes like her fall by the way side, it's keeping them in the sport which is difficult. Some are happy to get by on natural talent, until they hit mid teens when the training aspect h...

Must admit, I did a bit of research myself. At U13 she is ranked no 2 all time at 800m - 2.15, and at U15 she is ranked no 1 all time at 800m - 2.06.5, 1982 English Schools Junior 800m first, Inter-Counties XC U13 girls 1981 & 1982......and that's it. Great shame, wonder what happened after she ...

I read on the UKA site about Rachel Hughes who won the Inter-Counties U13 race in 1981 and was the emily pigeon of her day. What else did she do and what happened to her?

Cheers

Sian Edwards is one for the now and future, and a good example of a girl who wasn't at the front of big XC races at U13 and U15. Too many younger runners are burnt out by over enthusiastic parents and coaches before they get going. Blue is good at longer distances, however, she needs to work on her ...