After a successful athletics season, Lower Sixth Former Peanut Meekings has been selected to join the British Athletics 2019 – 21 Youth Talent Programme (YTP).
The YTP is the first stage of the Performance Pathway for young athletes in England aged sixteen. The programme aims to give athletes the opportunity to learn, train and develop the necessary skills to progress on to becoming a senior international. Only a focused number of athletes across England are shortlisted and identified to be part of the programme, which is there to confirm and support long term GB and Commonwealth Games potential. Recent graduates from the programme include sprinter Reece Prescod, heptathlete Niamh Emerson and hurdler Shona Richards.
Peanut, who is also a talented shot putter, was selected for her ability at the javelin. With a personal best of 40.83 metres Peanut is one of the best javelin throwers in the country for her age. Over the summer Peanut placed 2nd in the Sussex Championships and 8th in the English Schools competition at the Alexander International Stadium in Birmingham. She is thrilled to be selected for the Youth Talent Programme:
“I couldn’t be more honoured and privileged to have been picked for such an outstanding programme. I am so looking forward to seeing what new beginnings this opens for me and to see what skills I can gain from this experience.”
Burgess Hill Girls Head Liz Laybourn commented:
“We are so proud of Peanut’s dedication, commitment and passion for Athletics. She is a role model to the younger pupils and continues to prove what a talented young person she is. Gaining a place on the Youth Talent Programme is simply fantastic and so well deserved.”