COLCHESTER Harriers youngster Olivia Simon will compete for Team Essex at next month's English Schools Championships in Birmingham.

She secured her place at the Alexander Stadium, following an impressive display for North East Essex at the Essex Schools Track and Field Championships, in Chelmsford.

The defending Junior Girls' hammer champion, who has consistently thrown entry standard distances since last summer, was unable to pull off a legal and much-desired big throw to reach national standard in very windy conditions.

But she nevertheless reclaimed her championship standing and maintained her top-ten UK ranking, after winning with a best of 38.82 metres.

Simon's Harriers team-mates were also vying for Team Essex selection for the prestigious English Schools Championships.

Sean Emeka-Ugwuadu led the Junior Boys' long jump in miserable conditions until the very last round where he was outdone by the eventual winner and had to settle for silver with a best of 5.59m.

Chanel Mba (Inter Girls) and Vic Chima (Inter Boys) both competed in the triple jump.

With the wind whipping up the sand, Mba claimed a superb silver medal with a personal best (PB) of 10.32m.

Despite adding an impressive 63cm to his PB to get a best of 12.49m, it was not enough for Chima to secure a podium placing.

George Lavender broke the 40m mark in the Intermediate Boys' javelin competition, finishing just outside the medals with a best of 40.30m.

Top-scoring Harrier Jakub Walcecki produced his best leap ever by soaring over 1.71m for a great bronze, in the high jump.

Junior Girls' competitor Eve Hood ran a superb 800m to clock 2.36 and qualify for the final.

Olivia Gillon enjoyed her Junior Girls' 200m heat and was third in 29.31s, while Georgie Smith was fifth in the 100m.

In the older age category, Libby Sutton was fourth in her heat in 13.59s.

Joe Clarke ran really well in his maiden Essex Schools Championships to clock 12.00 in the 100m into a -2.9 headwind, finishing third and narrowly missing out on a fastest loser slot.

Despite running in lane one, Madeleine Clayton finished a creditable fifth in 45.9s in the Inter Girls' 300m.

Milly Presland clocked a PB of 5.28.87 to secure a new club record in the Inter Girls' 1,500m steeplechase, in which she was the sole competitor.

Her time was just five seconds off the English Schools entry standard.

Hampered by a niggling hamstring, Jimi Sijuwola had to settle for sixth in the 100m final having won his heat in 11.52s.

Maya Rattray was fifth in the Inter Girls' 100m final after clocking the same time as in her heat (12.94s).

Shanii McLean was crowned Essex Schools Champion in the Girls' 200m in a PB of 25.70s, with team-mate Victoria Utti also competing.

Sam Shippey finished strongly edging in the 400m, edging out the champion for a brilliant gold and a new PB of 50.78, achieving the entry standard for the English Schools Championships.

Harriers' Aliyah Soames looked at ease in the Inter Girls' javelin with a best throw of 32.74m.

She added a fantastic 2.27m to smash her PB and club record, claiming a bronze medal.