9:30am Thursday 19th June 2008
By Simon Mail
ROBERT GAYLER set a new record as he stormed to the Under-15 Boys 200m title at the Herts Schools Athletics Championships.
The 14-year-old Nicholas Breakspear athlete won in a new Championship-best of 23.4 on Saturday and will represent Herts at the English Schools Championships next month. Gayler is ranked first in the country at the long jump and second at 200m for his age group.
School-mate Khamadi Ifediora, 12, celebrated winning the pre-junior boys discus with a distance of 22.29m.
Meanwhile, Abigail Wilde beat competition from girls more than a year older than her to win the Under-15 Girls javelin.
The 13-year-old Roundwood Park student threw a distance of 26.9m to take first place at Woodside, in Watford.
Kate Barber also won the Under-15 Girls 800m at the weekend.
The 13-year-old runner from St Albans High School for Girls topped the field with a time of 2.22.1. She has picked up some medals at County level before and has been competing for two years.
Michelle Bacon, head of PE at the school, said: "Kate ran a tactically outstanding race in both the heat and final. She has worked so hard, recovering from recent injury and thoroughly deserves this achievement. We are very proud of her."
Meanwhile, javelin thrower Peta Lundgren won gold at the South of England Under-20 Championships at Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Her throw of 42.17m showed the St Albans athlete is returning to her best form at just the right time.
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