Chesterfield athlete storms to national title in Sheffield

The 17-year-old Chesterfield and District Athletics Club sprinter did it in style in a personal best time of 55.81 seconds, adding to her U17 indoor 300m title.

The young athlete had intended to make the transition to 400m last year but was plagued with injury and illness so her coach, Daniel Duke, decided to revert to 200m.

Barrett didn’t disappoint and achieved the World Youth and Commonwealth standard at 200m. She was selected for and finished fifth in the final of the Commonwealth.

She said: “I never expected gold. Going into the final I was second fastest, but you cannot take anything for granted with such fast girls. I knew I had to work the bends, try to lead at the split and then maintain my position.

“I was second at the split and decided to stay with the leader and at the final bend had the strength to battle and take gold and achieved a big PB, I am so happy, but I know there is so much more hard work ahead.

And added: “I’ve worked hard over the winter to make the move to 400m, but I couldn’t have done it without the support of my coach and my sponsors, particularly given all the physio I needed last year and the warm winter training made all the difference, so thanks to Spectrum Freight, MSE Hiller and Utopia.”

Twin sister Alicia has a minor injury so was unable to contest the U20 60m hurdles.

Chesterfield team-mate Ollie Dakin - ranked fourth in his age group in the UK - made the final of the U15 hurdles.

He won his heat in a PB of 8.81s but couldn’t replicate the performance in the final, hitting the final hurdle and finishing sixth.

Dakin fared better in the Northern U13/U15 Indoor Championships held at the EIS at the start of February, taking gold in the U15 boys 60m hurdles in a time of 8.91s.

He also made the 200m final, finishing sixth in a time of 25.68s, and competed in the 60m, finishing third in his heat in 8.07s.

In the U15 pole vault competitions Max Norman jumped a PB of 2.50m for fourth place in the boys event with Chloe Wild also finishing fourth in the girls event, also with 2.50m.