Podium place for former Piggott School pupil Zak Seddon at European Team Championships

Getty Images for British Athletics

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Former Piggott School pupil Zak Seddon helped Great Britain and Northern Ireland to a fifth-place finish in the European Team Championships in Silesia, Poland over the weekend.

On the opening day of the competition, Seddon (Geoff Wightman, Bracknell) produced one of the team's finest performances to finish third in the men's 3,000m steeplechase. In doing so he secured 14 crucial points for the Great Britain squad.

Despite taking part in his fourth race in 11 days, Seddon looked remarkably fresh as he positioned himself well in the field. He then had the energy to hold his place on the inside lane in the closing stages.

With 200m to go, the Briton was put under pressure and overtaken by Daniel Arce (ESP) and Emil Blomberg (SWE), but Seddon chased them well to finish in 8.27.42. Afterwards, he said, “It was a bit slow at the start, so you know there is going to be a kick at the end, so I spent three or four laps just trying to get in a good position. I thought I had and today it got me third, so I am pleased.”

In the men's 400m, Ales Haydock-Wilson (Benke Blomkvist, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) worked hard to put himself in prime position to attack in the closing stages. He did just that and was in contention for a podium finish as the athletes entered the last 50 metres, however, he eventually crossed the line in fifth place having been edged out of fourth by just 0.01 seconds by the German Manuel Sanders. Despite this, he'll have been happy to post a season's best time of 45.25.

在野外活动,杰克诺里斯(保罗•迪金森Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) made his Great British bow and stepped up to claim a creditable seventh in a strong field. Norris opened the competition with a throw of 71.93m to settle any potential nerves and bettered that mark with his next two throws measured at 71.96m and 71.98m. He fell short of those marks on his final two throws but finished in seventh, collecting 10 points for the team.

The mixed 4x400m relay team - featuring Alex Haydock-Wilson - finished ninth in the amalgamated standings but were sixth in their A race. Their time was 3:14.27.