On Saturday, the Burgess Hill Girls athletics team travelled to Eastbourne to compete in Round 1 of the Diamond League, facing strong opposition from schools across Sussex. The event took place in ideal conditions on the south coast and provided an excellent opportunity for our athletes to test themselves at county level.
Our squad included a combination of experienced Year 10 competitors and enthusiastic Year 7 athletes, many of whom were competing against students up to two years older. Across the day, the girls demonstrated confidence, resilience and a willingness to challenge themselves in unfamiliar and highly competitive events.
The standout performance of the morning came from Year 7 Evelyn Z, who delivered an exceptional run in the U16 hurdles. Evelyn secured a silver medal with a time of 13.59 seconds — a remarkable achievement at just 12 years old — and showed composure beyond her years in a very strong field.
The Year 10 team soon followed with a series of strong performances across track and field events. Amber F claimed a decisive victory in the discus, throwing an impressive 20.52 metres and setting a commanding tone for the rest of the competition.
In the 800m, Millie T ran a tactically mature race, finishing just half a second outside the silver medal position. Her determined performance earned valuable points for the team and highlighted her growing strength in middle-distance events.
The 100m heats saw Lucy B, Olivia F and Sophie B all produce strong sprint performances, placing second, third and third respectively. Their consistency across heats contributed crucial points and maintained momentum throughout the afternoon.
One of the most memorable moments of the day came in the 1500m. Due to scheduling delays, runners from multiple age groups competed together in a single large race. Year 7 Lucy C rose confidently to the challenge, running a personal best time of 5:26 and securing first place in the junior category after a patient and determined race. Her performance was all the more impressive given the calibre and age of the competition.
The meeting concluded with the 4x100m relay, where the Year 10 team delivered a composed and powerful performance. Olivia F led off strongly, followed by confident legs from Sophie B and Millie T. Lucy B anchored the relay, bringing the baton home smoothly to complete an excellent team effort.
Overall, it was a highly successful and encouraging start to the Diamond League campaign for Burgess Hill Girls. The athletes showed commitment, courage and excellent sportsmanship throughout the day, gaining valuable competitive experience against a very strong field.
Thank you to the staff and parents who supported the team and contributed to a positive and well-organised day.
We now look ahead with confidence to Round 2 at the K2.
