Kerrie Harris (Hull Achilles AC) continued her excellent season by winning the 800m at the UK School Games in Coventry on Sunday 26 August.
Kerrie, representing Yorkshire and Humberside, took the title in a time of 2:09.73, a quarter of a second ahead of Scotland’s Gemma Cormack and the North West’s Leigh Lennon who both clocked 2:09.97. Rowena Cole (West Midlands), who beat Kerrie to take the Intermediate 800m title at the English Schools Championships, finished fourth in 2:10.60.
Kerrie adds the UK School Games gold to titles already won at the England Athletics Under 17 Championships, World Schools Cup and Home Schools International where she set a new personal best time of 2:08.98.
Dame Kelly, who attended the Games, said: “Kerrie has had a great season. She has worked hard with her coach and used what she has learnt through ‘On Camp with Kelly’ to assist her with her training and preparation. The UK Schools Games is an important multi-sport event for talented young sports people in the build up to London 2012 and competing there was a great experience for all the athletes.”
Kerrie qualified easily from her heat on Saturday, winning in 2:11.97.
Kerrie succeeds another ‘On Camp with Kelly’ athlete, Rachel Stringer (City of Norwich AC), as UK School Games 800m champion.
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Also on Saturday three ‘On Camp with Kelly’ athletes were in action at the BMC Nike Grand Prix Final at Crystal Palace.
Tara Bird (Woodford Green with Essex Ladies) set her sixth 800m personal best of the season, taking another half a second off with 2:06.89 for second place in the B race. The race was won by Ruth Watson in 2:05.88. Carolyn Plateau (Radley AC) set a season’s best of 2:08.25 to finish fourth.
In the 1500m C race Suzi Boast (Bedford & County) finished third in 4:38.61, just outside her personal best.
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