News

Ten young  sprinters are off to the Street Athletics Finals in Manchester after winning their 60m races on Dover Seafront.

The Street Athletics heats in Dover were held on Sunday 24 August as part of a day of events to celebrate the Olympic handover from Beijing to London.

The handover event for the local area was organized by Dover District Council, in close cooperation with Dover Town Council and with the support of Dover Harbour Board. A range of events took place and Olympic 2012 flags were raised on Dover Seafront and Deal Pier.

Street Athletics heats have been taking place nationally. Winners from the Dover heats were congratulated at DDC offices in Whitfield this week. Qualifying runners across the country are eligible for a place at the National Finals in Manchester on 20 September.

DDC Sports Development Officer Sarah Philpott said: "Through the Street Athletics events, led by Linford Christie and Darren Campbell, the search for new talent is on. In sports development, we are working hard to involve everyone in the community, and Street Athletics is a great way to get people out and about, and to enjoy keeping fit."

The event in Dover saw sprinters in a range of ages compete in the 60m sprint and the following athletes won a place at the National Street Athletics Finals in Manchester City Centre:

Under 13 Girls - Billie McLaren (8.65 sec) and Ella Reid (9.12 sec); Under 13 Boys - Alex Lynch (8.81 sec); Under 15 Girls - Sam Lynch (8.56 sec); Under 15 Boys - Joe West (8.02 sec); Under 17 Boys - Ben Jerrold (8.06 sec), Chris Qualey (8.24 sec) and Kierron Erbas (8.53 sec); Under 20 Boys - Jason Buddle (7.37 sec) and Matthies Legg (8.19 sec).