Oaklands athletes steal the show at SESSA Championships

Oaklands College Athletics Team stole the show at this year’s Southern England Students Sports Association (SESSA) Indoor Athletics Championship, winning 10 podium places against 11 university and 10 other college teams. The competing universities included Oxford, Cambridge and Middlesex.

The team excelled and far exceeded last year’s record.

Wins included three gold medals in the 60m, 200m and Long Jump, two silver medals in the Long Jump and Shot Putt and three bronze medals in the 400m, 60m and High Jump.

Frances Slater, who won the 60m by a big margin of 5 metres and set a new personal best of 7.6 seconds, has also just been selected to represent Great Britain for Bobsleigh in the first ever Winter Youth Olympics.

Taking place in Innsbruck, Austria in January 2012, Frances will be flying out there with five other team mates to join over 1,000 of the best young winter sports athletes from around the world.

All of the athletes are students of the Oaklands Athletics Academy and coach Ryan Freckleton commented: “I am over the moon with how our students have succeeded in the SESSA championships, particularly as they were competing against university students who are older and more experienced.

“Their success is a combination of talent, hard work and also reflects on the high standards of our Athletics Academy which combines education with sports training, providing the ideal route for young athletes to progress without either their education or training taking a back seat.

Frances Slater, GB Team Bobsleigh member, said: “I am very proud and excited to represent Team GB at the first winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck. It will be a very special feeling to compete for my country in such a big competition and it has been my dream from a young age to represent my country at an Olympic Games.”

The ASP athletes will now focus on the full indoor season and the English Schools National Championships to be held early in 2012.

Notes to Editors

•    Results: Frances Slater 60m – 7.6 seconds, Connor Archer, Keiron Moss, Billy Vernon Hamilton, Jordan Smallin 200m – 1.33.6, Keiron Moss Long Jump – 6.40, Jessica Barber, Martina Barber, Martha Omar, Rebekah Wiltshire Relay Squad – overall 4th, Laura Farrar 3000m – 10.24.6, Rebekah Wiltshire Long Jump – 5.03, Jordan Smallin Shot Putt – 9.34, Jessica Barber 400m – 62.9, Connor Archer – 60m – 7.1, Tim Buckle High Jump – 1.85.