Banbury Harriers’ Emily Thompson produced a season’s best performance to help her England Juniors 4 x 800m relay team secure an impressive second-place finish at Birmingham University last weekend. Thompson was joined in the England team by Isabelle Boffey, European 800m Youth Champion, Katrina Simpson and Yasmin Austridge, to compete against high-quality opposition from the UK, Ireland and the USA. The event marked the highlight of Birmingham University’s hosting of the Ivy League tour, welcoming the 
Universities of Pennsylvania, Cornell and Limerick, to compete across a range of track and field events.
Thompson, who will be studying at the University of Birmingham from September, led out the England team against a combined US team, two Birmingham University quartets and a Birmingham alumni team that included GB track stars Hannah England and Alison Leonard. Running a determined and well-judged first 800m against high-quality opposition, Thompson handed over to team mate Yasmin Austridg
e in second place, narrowly behind the US team. With excellent runs by Austridge and Simpson, the England Juniors team passed the baton to Isabelle Boffey for the final 800m. After a measured first lap, Boffey closed rapidly on the US team over the last 400m, almost snatching the victory, and finishing well ahead of all the other teams.
The England Junior team’s combined time of 8min 39.78seconds was only narrowly outside both the British and World records for an Under 20 Womens’ 4 x 800m team. With all 4 members of the team having another year as Under 20’s, another attempt at the world record is possible next season!
Report & photo by Richard Thompson
