Brother and sister Mark and Natasha Bailey both hit the medal trail when the Essex Schools Athletic Championships were staged at Chelmsford's Melbourne Park Stadium.
While 15-year-old Mark won the intermediate 3,000 metres in a time of 8 mins. 56.6 secs -- breaking the nine minute mark for the first time -- his 13-year-old sister was claiming silver second place position in the junior girls 1,500m.
Mark, a pupil at Westcliff High School for Boys, gained selection for the Essex team to compete in Sheffield at the English Schools Championship next month.
Natasha, who goes to Southend High for Girls, is a reserve for that date and her performance was particularly meritorious as she is a first year junior in athletic terms and will still be eligible for this age group next year.
She ran her race in a time of 4m. 51.8s.
Bailey was a good name to have for the big event at Chelmsford, where competitors battled against extremely hot conditions in the warm sunshine.
For Fitzwimarc School, Rayleigh's, Andrew Bailey finished runner-up to great pal and rival James McLean in the year seven 75m hurdles.
McLean, a pupil at Greensward School, Hockley, won in 11.9 secs against the 12.2 of Bailey, who had pipped him in the same event at under-13 level in the Essex Counbty Championships at the same venue last month.
McLean's time was not only a new championshp record but a UK best by an under-13 athlete.
Published Friday, June 20, 2003
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