British Athletics AASE Programme 2016

Amy Five leading student athletes representing Middlesbrough AC (Mandale) have been rewarded for their outstanding form in 2015 by being included in this year’s British Athletics Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE).

The Five athletes to be included in this year’s programme are, Amy Carr, Joe Martin, Aaron Jeal, Dan Nixon and Nathan Baker.

Sprinter Amy Carr won the IWAS World Junior Championships over 100 and 200 metres and national 200 metres title in 2015 and Nathan Baker is Northern inter-counties champion at 3000 metres and national silver medallist at 1500 metres

Of the trio of field eventers making the grade Aaron Jeal is the reigning North East Champion in the hammer and Northern silver medallist. Javelin thrower Dan Nixon is the North East and Cleveland Champion in that discipline and Joe Martin is the reigning North of England Champion in the discus.

AASE Boys During the year long course the promising athletes will be paired with mentors who will be on hand to offer them advice and guidance on the sometimes difficult transition from local to national level athlete. The course will also teach the four about nutrition for elite athletes, planning for international competitions and how to deal with social media and other aspects of top flight competition.

Sharon Morris from British Athletics said “to have five athletes from one club invited to attend this year’s course shows that academic and sporting success can go hand in hand” She added “the commitment these athletes have shown in their sporting progress will hopefully be mirrored by them successfully completing this course and adding to their academic qualifications”.

The inclusion of the Five athletes on the programme brings the Middlesbrough Sports Village based club up to 7 over the last two years following successful programme completion in 2015 by Sam Day and Sam Griffin.

Jack Crosby

Event: 400m

Personal Best: 46.35

Career Highlight: World Junior Championships 5^th place 400m, 4^th place 4x400m Oregon USA 2014, England U20 silver 400m 2014, English Schools bronze senior 400m 2013, English Schools silver Intermediate boys 200m 2011, UK Schools Bronze 200m 2011.

Ultimate Goal in Athletics: British and European 400m record holder

Began Athletics: 2010

Coaching Pathway: 2010-2014 Rick Betts, 2014-present Lloyd Cowan

Aims: Rio 2016, World Champs 2017, Commonwealth Games 2018

Hobbies: most of my spare time I spend lounging around and playing PlayStation.

My Motto: “if it was easy everyone would be doing it”

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be: Fat

Hannah Segrave

Event: 400/800m 56.66/2 min 06.86s

Personal Best: 800m 2.06.86s

Career Highlight: 2015 Silver medalist at NAIA Indoor & Outdoor nationals

Ultimate Goal in Athletics: To still run competitively after college (uni)

Began Athletics: 2007

Coaching Pathway: 2007-2013 Cyril Banks, 2013 Chris Layne USA

Aims: Win NAIA nationals; improve on 800, 1500 & mile PB’s

Hobbies: Socializing, Netflix

My Motto: I really like Lyndsey Sharp’s ‘Get out strong, commit’

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be: Hopefully travelling the world!

Charlie Myers

Event: Pole Vault

Personal Best: 5.15

Career Highlight: England Under 20 Champion 2015, Selected to represent Great Britain at European under 20 Championships 2015, English Schools Champion senior boys 2014, Schools International Champion 2014

Ultimate Goal in Athletics: Break World Record in Pole Vault whatever it is by then

Began Athletics: 2009, Pole Vault 2010

Coaching Pathway: Dave Welford, Glen Blenkinsopp, Joe Wake, Chris Boundy

Aims: World Juniors 2016, Top 3 at Commonwealth Games 2018

Hobbies: Music, training, socialising

My Motto: “Hrad work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be: A Pole Vault Coach

Kirsty Legg-Howell

Event: 800m/1500m Hobbies: Motto: If I wasn’t an athlete Kirsty

Personal Best: 800m 2:05.72, 1500m 4:14.5, mile 4:35.1, 3000m 9:19.60, Road 10k: 33:36

Career Highlight: Running at the Olympic Trials. Winning 10+ Conference Titles in NCAA Division 1

Ultimate Goal in Athletics: Olympic Games

Began Athletics: 2005

Coaching Pathway: Dave Wilkinson, Stan Markley, Matt Roe, Dena Evans

Aims: To make one of the GB International Teams

Hobbies: Crafting, playing with my dog, being at the beach

My Motto: “If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right!”

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be: A full-time Coach (Which I am already) or Working in Athletic Administration

Amy Carr

Event: 100m/200m/Long Jump

Personal Best: 14.86/31.56/3.68m

Career Highlight: UK School Games 2014 Gold, Brazilian School Games 2014Gold 100m, IWAS World Junior Games Bronze 100m 2014

Ultimate Goal in Athletics:

Began Athletics:

Coaching Pathway: 2013-present Rick Betts

Aims:

Hobbies:

My Motto:

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be:

Ade Babatunde

Event: Triple Jump

Personal Best: 15.94m

Career Highlight: 2011 World Indoor Trials silver, 2011 European Trials bronze, British Universities Champion 2010

Ultimate Goal in Athletics:

Began Athletics:

Coaching Pathway: 2000-2012 Rick Betts, 2012-present self

Aims:

Hobbies:

My Motto:If I wasn’t an athlete I would be:

Ben Stephenson

Event: 100m/200m

Personal Best: 10.50/21.43

Career Highlight: AAAs bronze 2009 & 2013, UKSG silver 2009, 5x Northern medallist, 5x BUCS relay gold

Ultimate Goal in Athletics: to reach my full potential

Began Athletics: 2007

Coaching Pathway: 2007-2011 Charles Stuart, 2011-2012 Greg Potter & Jared Deacon, 2012-2013 Craig Pickering, 2013-2014 Greg Potter, 2014-present Glyn Hawkes

Aims: to have a successful career and enjoy athletics

Hobbies: watching TV series and films

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be: playing rugby or football

My Motto: “control the controllables and train the smartest not the hardest”

Josh Cowperthwaite