Sunday 7th April 2013. NEC Birmingham
AAA Chairman and Brighton and Hove AC veteran Chris Carter and his wife Elaine were guests of honour at the 30th UK Sportshall National Finals, which took place on Sunday at the NEC Birmingham.
Despite no Sussex team presence, 12- year old Amber Anning received an individual invitation to compete in the Under 13 girls’ Standing Triple Jump and a race of her choice after a double win at the South East Regional Sportshall Final in February.
Earlier in the season in the Sussex Sportshall League Amber twice broke the 18-year old 4-lap sprint record of 48.5 held by another B&H runner, 400m International Gaby Howell, with a time of 47.1.
She had also broken the 20-year old Standing Triple Jump league record with a leap of 7.26m.
In Birmingham, with competition from teams from Wales, Northern Ireland and all the English Regions, Amber more than rose to the challenge. She won the Standing Triple Jump with a PB of 7.38m before demolishing the 4 – lap field in both the heat and final. In the latter she opened up a lead within the first half lap and finished more than a second ahead of the next runner.
Amber, who has another year in the age group has set her sites on beating the U13G UK Championship STJ record of 8.10m if she qualifies again in 2014
