YOUNG Isle of Wight athletes showcased their exceptional potential at this year's Hampshire Track and Field Championships — winning medals aplenty and with one smashing a championship record in the discus.

At the prestigious event, held at Portsmouth's Mountbatten Centre recently, a team from the Isle of Wight Athletic Club (IWAC) were among the 745 athletes, which not only included the majority from around Hampshire, but also the Channel Islands, of which a number have gone on to represent the county in national competition. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Eden Canning in the final of the 80m hurdles.Eden Canning in the final of the 80m hurdles.

Many of the Island athletes had to get through very tough heats to qualify for semi-finals and finals, which really tested their endurance and fortitude at times.

One of the highlights of the meeting were the senior men's performances of Nicholas Percy, who threw a champion record in discus, while Cowes athlete, Dan Eckersley, 24, won back-to-back gold medals in the 3,000m steeplechase and the 5,000m. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Millie Bacon, who won gold in the 1,500m steeplechase.Millie Bacon, who won gold in the 1,500m steeplechase.

The IWAC boasted no fewer than ten medal winners. 

In the U15 girls category , which attracted the largest number of competitors, Jessica Heng had a busy weekend — taking part in the 100m, 200m, 300m, 1,500m and long jump. She reached the semi-finals of the 100m and 200m.

Naomi Holdsworth, as well as coming third in the discus, also competed in the javelin and ran the 800m and 1,500m, gaining PBs to reach the final in both events.

Isle of Wight County Press: Naomi Holdsworth (in yellow) leads the way in the 800m.Naomi Holdsworth (in yellow) leads the way in the 800m.

Maisey Kent also took part in the 800m and 1,500m, reaching the final of the latter and narrowly missing out on a place in the 800m final, while Evie Taylor ran the 800m and threw the discus, finishing sixth overall.

In the U17 women's category, Mabel Lewis came fifth in the 800m and 1,500m, with Eden Canning qualifying for the 80m hurdles final and finished fifth in the long jump.

Ellie Lovett took silver in the discus, while Millie Bacon came home with gold in the steeplechase.

Isle of Wight County Press: Holly Whitter (in yellow) crosses the line in the 100m.Holly Whitter (in yellow) crosses the line in the 100m.

In the U20 women's section, there were three IWAC athletes in the 100m — Lucy Drover, Mollie Butler and Holly Whitter, who came fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. Lucy also took part in the 200m, finishing sixth .

Joe Roberts was the only U13 boy from the Island to enter the championships — running very strongly to gain second place, while Jay Spooner entered the U15 boys' 800m race.

In the U17 men's events, Max Henley finished just outside of the medals in the 100m and came seventh in the 200m after some tough heats.

Campbell Laird finished strongly to grab silver in the 3,000m.

Isle of Wight County Press: Lucy Drover, left, and Mollie Butler compete in the 100m sprint.Lucy Drover, left, and Mollie Butler compete in the 100m sprint.

In the U20 men's section, Ben Holdsworth threw the javelin, coming fourth in the 400m, after returning from injury. He is also the current U20 men's pentathlon champion, having won gold the previous week.

James Haggerty finished fifth in the 400m and sixth in the 800m, while Luke Margham ran a fabulous 400m to celebrate gold.

In the senior momen, Emily Fry competed in the 100m, narrowly missing out on a podium place, while the senior men cleaned the board with their gold medal haul.

                                        ALL THE MEDAL WINNERS

Gold — Milly Bacon (U17 girls' 1,500m steeplechase), Nicholas Percy (senior men's discus), Dan Eckersley (senior men's 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m) and James Forman (senior men's 400m hurdles): silver — Ellie Lovett (U17 girls' discus),  Joseph Roberts (U13 boys' 1,500m), Cambell Laird (U17 boys' 3,000m) and Ben Holdsworth (U20 men's 400m hurdles); bronze — Naomi Holdsworth (U15 girls' discus)