Five pupils from a Suffolk school will be heading to a national athletics final in Birmingham next month following success at a regional competition.

Georgia Harrold competed in the 100m final and took second place in a time of 13.8 to qualify for the national finals of the Prep Schools Athletics Championships. She was competing with other pupils from Woodbridge School in the regional section of the competition at the International Stadium at Bedford. As Georgia was competing on the track she was only allowed two attempts at long jump but that was enough to give her first place with a jump of 4.23m and another national place.

Joining her at the national finals will be another senior school pupil, Amelia Brown who had to wait until late afternoon to compete against 18 other pupils in the discus event. Her place at the national finals was assured when she threw 23.21m and gained first place.

Three pupils from The Abbey, the preparatory department of Woodbridge School, also gained success and places at the national finals. Amy Graham took first place after throwing the javelin 21.74m. Joanne Garnett was placed first in the discus event with her 22.40m and set a new East Area Record as the previous one had been 21.46m. Ianthe Hill completed the trio of Abbey successes with a second place in the 800m with a time of 2.47 which was particularly good as she is a year under the age group.

Tessa Knowles, head of Year 7 at Woodbridge School said: “We are really pleased to have five places in the national finals with 52 schools at the regional event. All the competitors worked hard to train for their particular area and now they will have to make sure their training continues in the run up to the national finals in early July.”