"Fantastic Week" for Shrewsbury Athletics thanks to Sporting Performances

Iris D (G, LVI) and Jack K (Ph, IV) have had some incredible athletics achievements this week. 

Iris will be competing in the Muller Birmingham Diamond League 800m ‘B’ race this weekend at the Alexander Stadium. Iris was asked to compete in the race by British Athletics, after coming 3rd in the Birmingham Uni Grand Prix with a PB of 2:04.44. 

Iris said: “I am so excited for the race! Racing in a Diamond League event is a dream come true for me. I shall be in a race alongside some of my heroes! I was planning to go as spectator; I really cannot believe that I am now running in the event.  

I am extremely pleased that Colin Lancaster, my coach, will be coming with me to support me in the warm-up area before the race. It will be an amazing experience and as Mr Pembleton always says; "Run the race and not the occasion". I shall try my best to do this on Saturday! Fortunately, my parents bought two tickets before they all sold out!   

Also celebrating success is Jack, who has been ranked as the Number 1 800m U17 athlete in the UK. On Tuesday night Jack ran in an U23 800m race at the Trafford Grand Prix, shaving an incredible 4 seconds off his PB and finished 4th.   

Jack said: “It was an amazing feeling getting a new pb in the 800m on Tuesday and I wasn’t expecting to knock off 4 seconds from my previous best time, which was 1:56.9 to my time yesterday which was 1:52.58.  

I am really happy to now be the number 1 ranked U17 in the UK, especially since I am a year younger than most of my competitors. It was a massive relief seeing my time yesterday as all my hard work training for the track season has paid off, but I am not stopping here. I am aiming to do 1:49 this season and to win English schools and English champs for 800m. I am also aiming for a European U20 qualifying time which is 1:51, as I have already qualified for the U18 Europeans in Jerusalem, but I am too young to compete.   

“I felt really good at the event in Manchester the other day and I felt very strong all the way through despite the conditions and pushing and shoving. It is all good experience though and I really enjoyed racing against older athletes who helped me push myself for a faster time.” 

Andrew Pembleton, Director of Sport added: “What a fantastic week for Shrewsbury Athletics on the back of two outstanding performances. 

For Iris, the opportunity to race in front of a packed stadium with full-time professional athletes will give her a taste and experience of what it’s like to compete at that elite level, something often reserved for much older athletes. Alongside it being a fantastic learning opportunity, I hope she’ll remember to enjoy the experience. Her performances and times have been improving throughout the season and being invited to race at this level is testament to her hard work.  

“We’ve been accustomed to hearing of Jack’s performances but to knock 4 seconds off his PB and to be running 1:52 in the 800m really is remarkable and I’m sure he’ll be turning some heads in the athletics world. Jack still has another year to go in the U17 age category, and so the direction of travel of his performances is really exciting. In this form I expect that Jack will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, and I wouldn’t bet against him achieving his goal of 1:49 this season."