Four athletes from Comet country were among the medals in national championships. The quartet were part of the Eastern Region team that finished a creditable fifth in the overall National Junior Athletics Championships held for young people with disabilit

Four athletes from Comet country were among the medals in national championships.

The quartet were part of the Eastern Region team that finished a creditable fifth in the overall National Junior Athletics Championships held for young people with disabilities at Stanley Park stadium, Blackpool, recently.

The athletes could qualify in up to three events each and some of the youngsters were asked to represent the region in a relay in addition to this.

The event saw more than 400 disabled athletes from a dozen regions across Great Britain compete in a full track and field event programme.

Nationwide Building Society, Lions Club International and Blackpool Council supported the event for the young Paralympic hopefuls.

Jamie Burton from Hitchin Boys' School, competing in the nationals for the first time, achieved personal bests in all three of his events, distance club, 100m, and grip ball and silver medals in the latter two.

He was also selected to compete in the 4x60m relay in which the Eastern Region finished third for a bronze medal.

Kristian Fox, a Year 12 student from Knights Templar School in Baldock, competed in the 100m, 200m and discus.

He came home with three medals, a gold, silver and bronze and he also recorded a personal best in the 100m.

Kristian represented the Eastern Region in the 4x400m relay, and the team finished in fourth place.

Martina Barber, a pupil at The Valley School in Stevenage, was also attending the championships for the first time.

Her events were the 100m, 1500m and long jump.

Martina ran an excellent 1500m and picked up the silver medal. She also got a silver medal for the 100m and collected gold for an outstanding long jump.

Featured in last week's Comet, Simon Harris from Greenside School in Stevenage achieved a personal best in the 200m and finished fourth in both his 100m and 200m races.

Stevenage and North Herts AC were a major support in the preparation for the championships, welcoming additional athletes in for weekly coaching sessions.

Ros Cramp, partnership development manager for the North Herts School Sports Partnership, co-ordinated the team from Hertfordshire.

She said: "It was a brilliant weekend and all the young people did exceptionally well. To achieve what they did is an outstanding achievement and everyone should be very proud of themselves."

* If you would like more information about disability sport in Hertfordshire, contact Ros Cramp at rospdm@yahoo.co.uk or call 07817 756143.