The English Schools' Athletics Championships are annual national athletics competitions organised by the English Schools' Athletic Association ESAA for students in England aged 12–18 for track and field, cross country and race walking.

The events are used to select the English team for the Schools International Athletics Board competitions (which involve England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) and the ISF World Schools' Cross Country Championships and World Schools Track & Field Championships.

Age groups Age groups for the championships are defined based on a student's age on 31 August of the school year in which the competition is held as follows: Group (Boys, Girls)Age at 31 AugustAge at EventSchool YearJunior (JB, JG)13–1412–148–9Intermediate (IB, IG)15–1614–1610–11Senior (SB, SG)17–1816–1812–13

Track and field championships The track and field championships have been held every year since 1925 (except for 1940–1945 due to World War II), are the 4th largest athletics event in the world and since 2003 have been held at the major athletics venues of Birmingham Alexander Stadium, Sportscity, Manchester, Gateshead International Stadium and former Sheffield Don Valley Stadium.

To be eligible to compete students must attain an entry standard . Each county selects a team for the championships from the eligible students attending schools in their area subject to various constraints including maximum team sizes and students only being allowed to participate in a single individual event at the championships. Teams earn points based on the finishing position of their students in each event and their performances levels. The teams compete for various trophies based on their points earned. Since 1951 Essex have attained the overall highest points total the most times.

Championship records Boy's Junior (13-14) Event Mark Athlete County Year 100 m 10.64 Divine Ebechukwu Iheme Oxfordshire 2024 200 m 21.99 Remi Jokosenumi Middlesex 2018 300 m 34.81 Amir Sultan - Edwards London 2018 800 m 1:56.00 Findlay Mclaren Essex 2023 1500 m 4:03.60 Douglas Stones Humberside 1979 80 m hurdles (84cm) 10.50 Joseph Harding Essex 2017 4 × 100 m relay 43.33 Surrey 2025 High jump 1.96 m Richard Byers Cumbria 2005 Long jump 7.06 m Duncan Williams Buckinghamshire 2026 Triple jump 14.26 m Jomiloju Hughes London 2024 Pole vault 4.30 m Neil Winter Avon 1988 Shot put (4kg) 18.29 m Michael Wheeler Surrey 2006 Discus throw (1.25kg) 56.90 m Kendrick Onolememen Kent 2026 Javelin throw (600g) 69.89 m Hugo Bucher Middlesex 2025 Hammer throw (4kg) 70.78 m Andrew Tolputt Berkshire 1982 Intermediate (15-16) 100 m 10.41 Divine Iheme Oxfordshire 2025 200 m 21.32 Sean Appiah Essex 2024 400 m 47.18 Chris Clarke Berkshire 2006 800 m 1:50.93 Michael Rimmer Merseyside 2002 1500 m 3:49.15 Matthew Shirling Merseyside 2012 3000 m 8:20.00 Kevin Steere Norfolk 1971 100 m hurdles (91.5cm) 12.69 Jaiden Dean Norfolk 2022 400 m hurdles (84cm) 51.83 Samael Lunt Cheshire 2022 1500 m steeplechase 4:11.90 Teddy Murphy Hertfordshire 2026 4 × 100 m relay 41.85 London 2010 High jump 2.12 m Femi Abejide London 1981 Long jump 7.80 m Daniel Emegbor Hertfordshire 2025 Triple jump 15.91 m Jonathan Moore West Midlands 2000 Pole vault 4.87 m Max Merriman Surrey 2026 Shot put (5kg) 20.48 m Carl Myerscough Lancashire 1996 Discus throw (1.5kg) 61.24 m Emeka Udechuku London 1995 Javelin throw (700g) 77.12 m James Whiteaker Kent 2014 Hammer throw (5kg) 73.58 m Andrew Tolputt Berkshire 1984 Senior (17-18) 100 m 10.31 Alec Williamson Merseyside 2026 200 m 20.85 Ethan Franklin Essex 2025 400 m 46.26 Mark Hylton Berkshire 1995 800 m 1:48.60 Paul Burgess Leicestershire 1989 1500 m 3:45.90 Clifton Bradeley Staffordshire 1984 3000 m 8:10.50 John Nuttall Lancashire 1985 110 m hurdles (99cm) 13.69 Jack Meredith Merseyside 2010 400 m hurdles (91.5cm) 51.45 Rayhan Mourtada Kent 2025 2000 m steeplechase 5:38.20 Spencer Duval Staffordshire 1989 4 × 100 m relay 40.55 Essex 2025 High jump 2.25 m Geoff Parsons Kent 1983 Long jump 7.82 m Daniel Emegbor Middlesex 2026 Triple jump 15.92 m Lawrence Lynch London 1985 Pole vault 5.16 m Ben Flint South Yorkshire 1998 Shot put (6kg) 20.64 m Carl Myerscough Somerset 1998 Discus throw (1.75kg) 61.87 m Lawrence Okoye Surrey 2010 Javelin throw (800g) 73.41 m Harry Huges Suffolk 2016 Hammer throw (6kg) 76.84 m Jake Norris Berkshire 2017

Girl's Junior (13-14) Event Mark Athlete County Year 100 m 11.58 Ashleigh Nelson Staffordshire 2005 200 m 23.72 Annable Fasuba Devon 2025 300 m 38.61 Isla Perry Devon 2025 800 m 2:06.22 Tilly Simpson Derby 2015 1500 m 4:23.58 Jessica Judd Essex 2009 75 m hurdles (76cm) 10.90 Pippa Earley Surrey 2015 4 × 100 m relay 47.37 Surrey 2012 High jump 1.77 m Lee Haggett London 1986 Long jump 6.22 m Margaret Cheetham Merseyside 1983 Pole vault 3.62 m Emillie Oakden Sussex 2018 Shot put 14.08 m Adanna Udechuku Essex 2025 Discus throw (1kg) 39.89 m Sophie Mace Surrey 2013 Javelin throw (500g) 46.36 m Mila Desborough Dorset 2026 Hammer throw (3kg) 58.01 m Pheobe Baggott Staffordshire 2016 Intermediate (15-16) 100 m 11.63 Darryl Neita London 2012 200 m 23.62 Vernicha James London 2000 300 m 37.93 Cheriece Hylton Kent 2013 800 m 2:03.12 Phoebe Gill Hertfordshire 2023 1500 m 4:16.24 Georgia Peel Hampshire 2009 3000 m 9:27.15 Harriet Knowles-Jones Greater Manchester 2014 80 m hurdles (76cm) 10.85 Thea Brown Cheshire 2023 300 m hurdles (76cm) 41.13 Lucia Bertacchini Hampshire 2025 1500 m steeplechase 4:52.00 Evelyn Wildman Greater Manchester 2026 4 × 100 m relay 46.10 Surrey 2016 High jump 1.83 m Aileen Wilson Leicestershire 2000 Long jump 6.38 m Margaret Cheetham Merseyside 1985 Triple jump 12.59 m Leila Newth Middlesex 2025 Pole vault 3.93 m Molly Caudery Cornwall 2015 Shot put (3kg) 17.36 m Emilia Adese London 2026 Discus throw (1kg) 49.36 m Claire Smithson Sussex 1999 Javelin throw (500g) 52.25 m Lucy Bull Gloucestershire 2026 Hammer throw (3kg) 65.06 m Katie Head Essex 2016 Senior (17-18) 100 m 11.59 Rebecca Drummond Staffordshire 1995 200 m 23.40 Simone Jacobs Berkshire 1984 400 m 53.99 Hannah Williams Hampshire 2016 800 m 2:04.40 Khahisa Mhlanga Essex 2017 1500 m 4:15.08 Amy Griffiths Leicestershire 2014 3000 m 9:04.37 Paula Radcliffe Bedfordshire 1992 100 m hurdles (84cm) 13.50 Lesley-Anne Skeete Somerset 1986 400 m hurdles (76cm) 57.81 Hayley McLean Essex 2013 1500 m steeplechase 4:40.23 Victoria Weir Devon 2016 4 × 100 m relay 46.80 Surrey 2017 High jump 1.88 m Vikki Hubbard Lincolnshire 2006 Pole vault 4.20 m Molly Caudery Cornwall 2017 Long jump 6.65 m Fiona May Derbyshire 1989 Triple jump 12.88 m Ahtollah Rose Greater Manchester 2011 Shot put (4kg) 15.65 m Eden Francis Leicestershire 2007 Discus throw (1kg) 52.74 m Claire Smithson Sussex 2001 Javelin throw (600g) 52.68 m Harriet Court Kent 2025 Hammer throw (4kg) 61.65 m Sophie Hitchon Lancashire 2009

Cross country championships The cross country championships have been held every year since 1960 for boys and 1968 for girls (except for 2001 due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak). Originally separate events were held for boys and girls but since 1989 they have always been combined.

Combined events and race waking championships A separate championships is held each year for combined events and race walking. For combined events students compete in the track and field pentathlon (JB, JG), heptathlon (IG, SG), octathlon (IB) and decathlon (SB) events. For race walking students compete over 3000 metres (JB, JG, IG) and 5000 metres (IB, SB, SG).

Notable competitors Many competitors at the English Schools' Athletics Championships have gone on to win individual Olympic and World Championship medals including multiple gold medallists Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Kelly Holmes and Greg Rutherford.

Olympic and World Medallists at the English Schools' Athletics Championships Athlete Olympic Medals World Championships Medals English Schools' Athletics Championships Results Senior Intermediate JuniorMo Farah 5000 m, 2016 10,000 m, 2016 5000 m, 2012 10,000 m, 2012 10,000 m, 2017 5000 m, 2017 5000 m, 2015 10,000 m, 2015 5000 m, 2013 10,000 m, 2013 5000 m, 2011 10,000 m, 2011 1500 m, 2001 1500 m, 1999 cross country, 1999 3000 m, 1998 cross country, 1998 1500 m, 1997Jessica Ennis-Hill heptathlon, 2016 heptathlon, 2012 heptathlon, 2015 heptathlon, 2011 heptathlon, 2009 high Jump, 2002 high jump, 200010th, high jump, 199915th, heptathlon, 1999Kelly Holmes 800 m, 2004 1500 m, 2004 1500 m, 1987Greg Rutherford long jump, 2016 long jump, 2012 long jump, 20154th, long jump, 20044th, long jump, 20035th, long jump, 2001Alistair Brownlee triathlon, 2012 cross country, 2006Phillips Idowu triple jump, 2009 triple jump, 1997 triple jump, 1996Paula Radcliffe marathon, 2005 3000 m, 1992 1500 m, 19918th, 1500 m, 1988Kelly Sotherton heptathlon, 2004 heptathlon, 2007 long jump, 1995 heptathlon, 1994 heptathlon, 19924th, 300 m, 1992Darren Campbell 200 m, 2000 100 m, 2003 200 m, 1989 200 m, 1988Dean Macey decathlon, 2001 decathlon, 1999 decathlon, 1995Jonathan Brownlee triathlon, 201211th, cross country, 200823rd, 3000 m, 2006146th, cross country, 2004Lisa Dobriskey 1500 m, 2009 1500 m, 2001 800 m, 1999 800 m, 19984th, cross country, 19985th, 800 m, 1997Hannah England 1500 m, 2011 1500 m, 200512th, cross country, 20035th, 1500 m, 200161st, cross country, 2000Nicola Sanders 400 m, 2007 400 m hurdles, 2000 400 m hurdles, 1999 300 m, 19984th, 200 m, 1997Tasha Danvers 400 m hurdles, 2008 100 m hurdles, 1995 300 m hurdles, 1994 300 m hurdles, 1993Robert Grabarz high jump, 2012 high jump, 2005 high jump, 2004Sophie Hitchon hammer throw, 2016 hammer throw, 2009Jenny Meadows 800 m, 20095th, 400 m, 1999 400 m, 19985th, 300 m, 1997 800 m, 1995Andy Turner 110 m hurdles, 2011 110 m hurdles, 1999 100 m hurdles, 1997

External links English Schools' Athletic Association (ESAA)

References