The English Schools' Athletics Championships are annual national athletics competitions organised by the English Schools' Athletic Association ESAA for students in England aged 12–18 for track and field, cross country and race walking.

The events are used to select the English team for the Schools International Athletics Board competitions (which involve England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) and the ISF World Schools' Cross Country Championships and World Schools Track & Field Championships.^[1]

Age groups

Age groups for the championships are defined based on a student's age on 31 August of the school year in which the competition is held as follows:^[2]

Track and field championships

The track and field championships have been held every year since 1925 (except for 1940–1945 due to World War II), are the 4th largest athletics event in the world and since 2003 have been held at the major athletics venues of Birmingham Alexander Stadium, Sportscity, Manchester,Gateshead International Stadium and former Sheffield Don Valley Stadium.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

To be eligible to compete students must attain an entry standard. Each county selects a team for the championships from the eligible students attending schools in their area subject to various constraints including maximum team sizes and students only being allowed to participate in a single individual event at the championships. Teams earn points based on the finishing position of their students in each event and their performances levels.^[12] The teams compete for various trophies based on their points earned. Since 1951 Essex have attained the overall highest points total the most times.

Cross country championships

The cross country championships have been held every year since 1960 for boys and 1968 for girls (except for 2001 due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak). Originally separate events were held for boys and girls but since 1989 they have always been combined.

Combined events and race waking championships

A separate championships is held each year for combined events and race walking. For combined events students compete in the track and field pentathlon (JB, JG), heptathlon (IG, SG), octathlon (IB) and decathlon (SB) events.^[15] For race walking students compete over 3000 metres (JB, JG, IG) and 5000 metres (IB, SB, SG).^[16]

Notable competitors

Many competitors at the English Schools' Athletics Championships have gone on to win individual Olympic and World Championship medals including multiple gold medallists Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Kelly Holmes and Greg Rutherford.

Olympic and World Medallists at the English Schools' Athletics Championships^[17][18][19]

Athlete	Olympic Medals	World Championships Medals	English Schools' Athletics Championships Results
			Senior	Intermediate	Junior
Mo Farah	5000 m, 2016 10,000 m, 2016 5000 m, 2012 10,000 m, 2012	10,000 m, 2017 5000 m, 2017 5000 m, 2015 10,000 m, 2015 5000 m, 2013 10,000 m, 2013 5000 m, 2011 10,000 m, 2011	1500 m, 2001	1500 m, 1999 cross country, 1999 3000 m, 1998 cross country, 1998	1500 m, 1997
Jessica Ennis-Hill	heptathlon, 2016 heptathlon, 2012	heptathlon, 2015 heptathlon, 2011 heptathlon, 2009		high Jump, 2002	high jump, 2000 10th, high jump, 1999 15th, heptathlon, 1999
Kelly Holmes	800 m, 2004 1500 m, 2004				1500 m, 1987
Greg Rutherford	long jump, 2016 long jump, 2012	long jump, 2015		4th, long jump, 2004 4th, long jump, 2003	5th, long jump, 2001
Alistair Brownlee	triathlon, 2012		cross country, 2006
Phillips Idowu		triple jump, 2009	triple jump, 1997 triple jump, 1996
Paula Radcliffe		marathon, 2005	3000 m, 1992 1500 m, 1991		8th, 1500 m, 1988
Kelly Sotherton	heptathlon, 2004	heptathlon, 2007	long jump, 1995 heptathlon, 1994	heptathlon, 1992 4th, 300 m, 1992
Darren Campbell	200 m, 2000	100 m, 2003		200 m, 1989	200 m, 1988
Dean Macey		decathlon, 2001 decathlon, 1999	decathlon, 1995
Jonathan Brownlee	triathlon, 2012		11th, cross country, 2008	23rd, 3000 m, 2006	146th, cross country, 2004
Lisa Dobriskey		1500 m, 2009	1500 m, 2001	800 m, 1999	800 m, 1998 4th, cross country, 1998 5th, 800 m, 1997
Hannah England		1500 m, 2011	1500 m, 2005	12th, cross country, 2003	5th, 1500 m, 2001 61st, cross country, 2000
Nicola Sanders		400 m, 2007	400 m hurdles, 2000 400 m hurdles, 1999	300 m, 1998 4th, 200 m, 1997
Tasha Danvers	400 m hurdles, 2008		100 m hurdles, 1995	300 m hurdles, 1994 300 m hurdles, 1993
Robert Grabarz	high jump, 2012		high jump, 2005	high jump, 2004
Sophie Hitchon	hammer throw, 2016		hammer throw, 2009
Jenny Meadows		800 m, 2009	5th, 400 m, 1999 400 m, 1998	5th, 300 m, 1997	800 m, 1995
Andy Turner		110 m hurdles, 2011	110 m hurdles, 1999	100 m hurdles, 1997

External links

• English Schools' Athletic Association (ESAA)

References