UK Athletics Performance Director Dave Collins today praised the performances of young Norwich Union GB&NI athletes at a string of recent championships.

Great Britain’s impressive medal haul at the World Youth, European Junior and European Under 23 Championships was 39.

The three events also saw 44 personal bests, two championship records and two national records broken.

Collins said the performances in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, Hengelo in the Netherlands and Debrecen in Hungary, showcased the emerging talent in athletics while proving genuine progression across the sport.

He said:

“I am delighted not only by the performances and results in Ostrava, Debrecen and Hengelo, but also by the attitudes and application of all the athletes.

“The number of medals, final placings and personal bests is proof of our youngsters now knowing what is expected of them and of them responding with the grit and determination to succeed.

“Congratulations to everyone who took part.”

He added:

“The progress of our athletes is down to better preparation, improved training programmes and stronger support through the right personal coaches, Talent Development Managers and UKA’s High Performance Centres (HiPACs).

“The three championships are important stepping stones for our younger athletes and are a integral part of their long term development. The performances over the last two or three weeks show we are going in the right direction.

“The big challenge for us now is to unsure as many of these athletes as possible make the transition through to senior international level.”

At the World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Cech Republic, the GB&NI team won four medals:

Gold

Asha Philip – 100m

Chris Clarke – 400m

Silver

Alison Leonard – 800m

Bronze

Ashlee Nelson – 100m

At the European Athletics Junior Championships in Hengelo, Netherlands, the GB&NI team won 14 medals:

Gold

Alex Nelson – 200m

Hayley Jones – 200m

4×100 women

4x400m men

Silver

James Brewer – 800m

Emma Jackson – 800m

Stephanie Twell – 1500m

Perri Shakes-Drayton – 400mH

4x100m men

4x400m women

Bronze

Luke Fagan – 200m

Emily Pidgeon – 5000m

Gianni Frankis – 110mH

Toby Ulm – 400mH

At the European Athletics Under 23 Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, the GB&NI team won 11 medals:

Gold

Simeon Williamson – 100m

Abbey Westley –1500

Laura Kenney – 5000m

David Greene – 400mH

4x400m men

Gary White – triple jump

Silver

Craig Pickering – 100m

Montell Douglas – 100m

Lizi Brathwaite – 1500m

Bronze

Rikki Fifton – 200m

Jessica Ennis – 100mH