PAC News 37, 24th September 2019

Adam’s silver in English Schools’ Decathlon!

Over a wet and windy weekend at the Exeter Arena (September 21/22) Adam Booth competed for Hampshire Schools in the English Schools Senior Boys’ Combined Events Decathlon.  Saturday was fine but windy, headwind in the LJ but tail wind in 100m. At the end of Day 1 he had achieved two PBs, his 400m time breaking his own PAC u20M Club Record!  Also a PB first day total!

He was leading the competition; then, on a wet and cloudy Day 2, he continued to lead until after the Javelin. His PV was another PB, as was his final total.  Of the 23 boys who completed all ten events, he was SILVER MEDALLIST!

Day 1 total = 3457, PB
Total after 2 days = 6367, PB

It is nearly impossible to describe the dedication and determination which has gone into producing this result. An indicator of this is the fact that Adam has set PBs in at least three events in every Decathlon competition he has done in 2019!  And he is a successful, senior school student!  Great family and coach support have helped to sustain this exemplary time-management!

Adam’s achievements, plus those of Ryan Long and George Walker and others in Combined Events, plus our members preparing for the multi-sport Modern Pentathlon, are reasons why we discourage early specialisation in track and field and encourage all our young athletes to try a large range of events as their physiques continue to change and develop until early adulthood!

Results from Southern u15/u20 Inter-Counties

Results from Oxford on September 7^th, where six of our athletes competed for Dorset (Clubs).   Best: Adam Booth (gold and silver), plus Ben Lewis (bronze).