Ripon teen overcomes collision to win 400m gold at prestigious national indoor championships
A Ripon Grammar School student has been crowned national champion at the England Athletics U15/U17/U20 Indoor Championships in Sheffield.
Simon Bordewich struck gold in the Under 17 400m at the English Institute of Sport, achieving a new personal best time of 50.21.
Following hard-won heats - the fastest by over a second - and a collision in the final with another athlete, the sixteen-year-old dominated the race.
Simon said: “It was tough – I had had to run a second quicker than the other finalists to qualify.
"After the first 200m I had a collision with another athlete on the bend, meaning I was forced to overtake on the final straight.”
The teenager from Burton Leonard, who represents Harrogate Harriers and previously held the English Schools 300m title, will vie for the national 400m crown in the outdoor championships this summer.
Simon’s ambition is to compete for England: "In the outdoor season ahead I am aiming to medal at the English Schools Championships and hopefully be selected to run for England.”
Injury prevented Simon from defending his national title last year, but he confirmed he was back on form when he won gold in the Under 17 400m at the Northern Athletics Championships last month.
The Ripon Grammar School student, who first took up running as a youngster when he joined Parkrun at Fountains Abbey, trains three times a week at Leeds Beckett University and also plays rugby for Ripon Grammar School and Ripon Rugby Club.