Thaila-Jade Mason won the England bronze medal by the narrowest of margins with a personal best score of 3434 points in the England U20 Pentathlon Championships at Sheffield last weekend.
Following hurdles (9.23 sec.) and high jump (1.59m) she set a pb of 8.51m in the shot and leapt 5.74m in the long jump to leave her in 2nd (English) place. However, a hamstring injury sustained in the long jump put her participation in the final event, the 800m, in doubt.
Knowing that she needed to stay within seven seconds of Tonbridge athlete Ella Thomas for a medal, Thaila had her hamstring taped up and started cautiously, before cramping as she made a sustained burst of speed in the final 80 metres.
The phrase “every point counts” never had greater meaning, as Thaila finished a single point ahead of Ella to clinch the bronze medal.
Unfortunately, the hamstring injury will not recover in time for her to represent England in the Swedish National Championships for which she would have been selected.
Former Bedford and County member Stephen Simmons finished 3rd in the Senior Men’s Heptathlon and will be representing England in the Swedish National Championships.
