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Junior champions go for gold

For the first time in the event’s history the Nationwide Junior Athletics Championships will be held at the Westwood Athletics Track at the University of Warwick. Being held over this weekend, the event will welcome over 250 competitors to take part in the biggest national competition of its kind. Disabled athletes aged 12-20 will compete in a full track and field programme- going for gold.

Held for many decades, the event organised by the English Federation of Disability Sport is a permanent fixture on the sporting calendar. With a lot of athletes developing from this junior event and going on to become Paralympians, it is a great chance to spot future stars. The 12-20 year olds have all competed in Nationwide regional qualifiers or reached the entry standard.

Sophie Kamlish who was discovered at a Playground to Podium event in 2010 catapulted herself on to the athletics scene at this event last year, winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m and long jump. This week she has been announced as a member of ParalympicsGB in London.

“I was at home when I got the phone call on Monday", says Sophie. "Even though you meet the standard, you still never believe it’s possible until you get that call. It was amazing to hear I had made it!”

Now facing a showdown with world record holder T44 athlete American, April Holmes, Sophie is keen to prove how good she is in the 100m and 200m. Her favourite event is 100m and with a personal best now of 13.9secs, she says the turning point in her life was getting a running blade.

“It was under two years ago when I first began taking the sport seriously. But then I was using my day leg to run in. As soon as I got my running blade- it made a huge difference. I knocked two seconds off my time immediately and can’t even imagine running with my day leg again. That’s why charities like READY, who funded mine are so important to athletes like me. It cost about £4,600 but because some children are still growing- they will need to replace it a few times”.


A participant in the last two National Junior Athletics Championships, Sophie has had to withdraw from this weekend’s Nationwide Junior Athletics Championships organised by Disability Sport Events. Her reason- she is off to London to collect her kit and be part of the ParalympicsGB team launch!

She says to other athletes competing this weekend though,

“Events like the junior athletics are fantastic. Try your hardest but don’t worry if you don’t achieve what you want on the day. There is plenty of time and opportunity to reach your goal!”

New and aspiring athletes will get their chance to compete and gain the experience to focus them on their goal of competing in Rio in 2016.

Job King from England Athletics said:

“The DSE National Junior Athletics provides a fantastic experience of competition for athletes new to athletics and those looking to make the next step to national recognition. It is a vital event for talented athletes being found by Playground to Podium to showcase their ability.”

The event provides competition for athletes of all impairments and the team trophy is a hotly contested affair for the athletes of the regions competing.

Nearly a quarter of the entries have been supported into or through athletics via the Playground to Podium programme. Since its launch, Playground to Podium has provided a means of identifying and supporting of potentially talented young disabled athletes. It has also enabled the development of an infrastructure to support more young disabled people to take up sport, stay involved and continue along a pathway.

This National Championship is sponsored by Nationwide Building Society and supported by Lions Club International, The Hilton Foundation and Water Direct. Nationwide Building Society has been a long term sponsor since 2000 and enjoyed following hundreds of disabled athletes win gold in their sport. As a partner for both swimming and athletics, Nationwide’s support is paramount for future champions.

Chad Rogerson, Nationwide’s Senior Citizenship Manager, said:

“This weekend young athletes from across the country will prove what fantastic results can be achieved thanks to their hard work and dedication.”

Terry Monnington, Director of PE and Sport at the University of Warwick, said: 

"The recently refurbished Mondo athletics track is regularly used to host National as well as student events and the University is dedicated to offering all facilities to a diverse and inclusive range of customers as possible.  The Department of Physical Education and Sport is particularly pleased to have the opportunity to work with the DSE on this occasion whereby youngsters will be encouraged to participate in sport gaining valuable experience and skills.”

The timetable runs as follows:
Saturday 14 July          9.30am-1pm/ 2pm-5pm
Sunday 15 July           9.30am- 12.30pm

It is free for spectators. Further information about DSE and the results from this event

For press information, call mobile: 07764 291662