Harry excels on national stage with athletics achievements

Upper Sixth Form pupil Harry P-M (I) has been making extraordinary achievements in the world of athletics.

Harry participated in the England U20 Championships at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, where he faced the best U20 800m runners from across the UK. Harry qualified for the final as the 3rd fastest qualifier from the heats. It was a tactically tough final with Harry finishing 6^th, but being the 6th best U20 800m runner in England is a significant achievement.

The support of Shrewsbury School has played a significant role in Harry’s success, allowing him the necessary time to compete in the indoor season. In the invitational John Thomas Boston Terrier Classic indoor 800m event in the USA on February 1st, Harry ran an impressive new personal best of 1:52.44. Considering that indoor running is typically 1-2 seconds slower than outdoor running (with UK athletics accounting for a 3.5-second handicap), this achievement is even more noteworthy.

Harry’s exceptional performance secured him an invitation to the UK Indoor Athletics Championships, an invitation-only event at the Birmingham Arena on February 22nd and 23rd, which was televised live - you can watch it here. Out of the entire UK, only four U20 athletes have received such an invitation, highlighting the magnitude of Harry’s accomplishment. Competing against some of our GB and Olympic athletes, Harry’s presence at this event is a testament to his growing reputation in the athletics community.

To highlight what a strong start to 2025 Harry is enjoying he also ran a 600m event at the Manchester SportCity Indoor Arena.  Harry ran the fastest time for an U20 Athlete thus far this year, and therefore is currently enjoying being the number one ranked U20 athlete at this distance.   Harry’s journey is only beginning, and these accomplishments are sure to be the first of many invitations to significant 800m races. His dedication, talent, and the support of Shrewsbury School have set the stage for a promising future in athletics. We eagerly anticipate Harry’s continued progress and the many triumphs that undoubtedly lie ahead.

Andrew Pembleton

Director of Sport