Sienna Rosewell isn’t resting on her laurels after claiming bronze at the English Schools’ Championships in Manchester.
The championships, held at Sportcity, have become known as the starting point for many future and current GB athletes with the likes of Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Kelly Holmes and Greg Rutherford all previously taking part.
In her first championships, Sienna,15, came through the 1500 metre heats to reach the final in a confident fashion against the cream of school Year 10-11.
Sienna, who runs for Stroud & District AC and attends Stroud High School, said: “The heats went to plan and even though I am very pleased to come away with a bronze, the final was not a good race for me tactically as I was at the back, being shoved around until about the last lap.”
Despite this, Sienna kept her cool: “I kept trying to make a move, but I couldn’t get around everyone and kept finding myself on the outside lanes at the back again, so at the bell, I really had to go for it to find myself in the battle for bronze. I’m pleased but definitely think if I wasn’t running in lanes 2/3 so much I could have stayed with the front two girls.”
Sienna insists she can get her times down as she continues to impress: “I’m concentrating on getting my times down in the 800, 1500, and 3k to finish the season with personal bests, and as I am only a younger age in the under 17s, I’m looking forward to next year to hopefully achieve even better, plus I’m excited for the cross country season, which is starting in a couple of months.”
Sienna is set to compete in Exeter on Saturday, July 24 before taking part in a week-long running camp in Harrow.
Meanwhile, Sienna’s Stroud and District AC training partner Henry Sheffield also qualified for the 1500 metre final and finished in 8th spot – in the fastest race in the country this year and one of the quickest of all time.
Henry acquitted himself well at the bell as the pace picked up to 3 minutes, 50 seconds mile pace.
