# English Schools' Athletics Championships

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 August | Age at Event | School Year |
| Junior (JB, JG) | 13–14 | 12–14 | 8–9 |
| Intermediate (IB, IG) | 15–16 | 14–16 | 10–11 |
| Senior (SB, SG) | 17–18 | 16–18 | 12–13 |

## 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 Archived 11 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine. 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.
Venues and champions since 1925. :
| # | Year | Venue | Winning Team |
| 1 | 1925 | Crystal Palace | multiple |
| 2 | 1926 | Stamford Bridge | multiple |
| 3 | 1927 | Stamford Bridge | multiple |
| 4 | 1928 | Stamford Bridge | multiple |
| 5 | 1929 | Stamford Bridge | multiple |
| 6 | 1930 | Stamford Bridge | multiple |
| 7 | 1931 | Reading | multiple |
| 8 | 1932 | Guildford | multiple |
| 9 | 1933 | Southend-on-Sea | multiple |
| 10 | 1934 | Blackpool | multiple |
| 11 | 1935 | Kettering | multiple |
| 12 | 1936 | Margate | multiple |
| 13 | 1937 | Brighton | multiple |
| 14 | 1938 | Derby | multiple |
| 15 | 1939 | Loughborough | multiple |
| 16 | 1946 | Eton | multiple |
| 17 | 1947 | Hull | multiple |
| 18 | 1948 | Bath | multiple |
| 19 | 1949 | Carshalton | multiple |
| 20 | 1950 | Port Sunlight | multiple |
| 21 | 1951 | Southampton | Middlesex |
| 22 | 1952 | Bradford | Yorkshire |
| 23 | 1953 | Uxbridge | Middlesex |
| 24 | 1954 | Ashington | Yorkshire |
| 25 | 1955 | Manchester | Surrey |
| 26 | 1956 | Plymouth | Yorkshire |
| 27 | 1957 | Southampton | Essex |
| 28 | 1958 | Houghton-le-Spring | Lancashire |
| 29 | 1959 | Northwich | Essex |
| 30 | 1960 | Shrewsbury | Middlesex |
| 31 | 1961 | Chesterfield | Middlesex/Yorkshire |
| 32 | 1962 | Hull | Yorkshire |
| 33 | 1963 | Chelmsford | Yorkshire |
| 34 | 1964 | Hendon | Yorkshire |
| 35 | 1965 | Watford | Lancashire |
| 36 | 1966 | Blackburn | Essex |
| 37 | 1967 | Peterborough | Lancashire |
| 38 | 1968 | Portsmouth | Lancashire |
| 39 | 1969 | Motspur Park | Essex |
| 40 | 1970 | Solihull | Lancashire |
| 41 | 1971 | Crystal Palace | Lancashire |
| 42 | 1972 | Usworth Washington | Warwickshire |
| 43 | 1973 | Bebington | Warwickshire |
| 44 | 1974 | Shrewsbury | Middlesex |
| 45 | 1975 | Durham | Middlesex |
| 46 | 1976 | Cannock | Middlesex |
| 47 | 1977 | Hendon | Essex |
| 48 | 1978 | Chesterfield | Essex |
| 49 | 1979 | Nottingham | West Midlands |
| 50 | 1980 | Knowsley | Essex |
| 51 | 1981 | Yeovil | West Midlands |
| 52 | 1982 | Birmingham | West Midlands |
| 53 | 1983 | Plymouth | West Midlands |
| 54 | 1984 | Thurrock | West Midlands |
| 55 | 1985 | Hull | West Midlands |
| 56 | 1986 | Portsmouth | West Midlands |
| 57 | 1987 | Birmingham | West Midlands |
| 58 | 1988 | Yeovil | West Midlands |
| 59 | 1989 | Wigan | Kent |
| 60 | 1990 | Derby | West Midlands |
| 61 | 1991 | Stoke | West Midlands |
| 62 | 1992 | Hull | Essex |
| 63 | 1993 | Blackpool | West Midlands |
| 64 | 1994 | Telford | Essex |
| 65 | 1995 | Nottingham | Essex |
| 66 | 1996 | Sheffield | Essex |
| 67 | 1997 | Sheffield | Essex |
| 68 | 1998 | Exeter | Essex |
| 69 | 1999 | Bury St. Edmunds | Essex |
| 70 | 2000 | Sheffield | Essex |
| 71 | 2001 | Exeter | Essex |
| 72 | 2002 | Nottingham | Surrey |
| 73 | 2003 | Sheffield | Essex |
| 74 | 2004 | Gateshead | Essex |
| 75 | 2005 | Birmingham | Essex |
| 76 | 2006 | Gateshead | Kent |
| 77 | 2007 | Birmingham | Essex |
| 78 | 2008 | Gateshead | Essex |
| 79 | 2009 | Sheffield | Essex |
| 80 | 2010 | Birmingham | Surrey |
| 81 | 2011 | Gateshead | Essex |
| 82 | 2012 | Gateshead | Surrey |
| 83 | 2013 | Birmingham | Surrey |
| 84 | 2014 | Birmingham | Surrey |
| 85 | 2015 | Gateshead | Essex |
| 86 | 2016 | Gateshead | Essex |
| 87 | 2017 | Birmingham | Surrey |
| 88 | 2018 | Birmingham | Essex |
| 89 | 2019 | Birmingham | Essex |
| 90 | 2021 | Manchester | N/A |
| 91 | 2022 | Manchester | Kent |
| 92 | 2023 | Birmingham | Kent |
Championship Records (as at 14 Jul 2024) :
| Age Group | Event | Mark | Athlete | County | Year |
| JB | 100 m | 10.64 | Divine Ebechukwu Iheme | Oxfordshire | 2024 |
| JB | 200 m | 21.99 | Remi Jokosenumi | Middlesex | 2018 |
| JB | 300 m | 34.81 | Amir Sultan - Edwards | London | 2018 |
| JB | 800 m | 1:56.00 | Findlay Mclaren | Essex | 2023 |
| JB | 1500 m | 4:03.60 | Douglas Stones | Humberside | 1979 |
| JB | 80 m hurdles (84cm) | 10.50 | Joseph Harding | Essex | 2017 |
| JB | 4 × 100 m relay | 43.46 | | London | 2016 |
| JB | High jump | 1.96 | Richard Byers | Cumbria | 2005 |
| JB | Long jump | 6.76 | Jerel Livingston | London | 2018 |
| JB | Triple jump | 14.26 | Jomiloju Hughes | London | 2024 |
| JB | Pole vault | 4.30 | Neil Winter | Avon | 1988 |
| JB | Shot put (4kg) | 18.29 | Michael Wheeler | Surrey | 2006 |
| JB | Discus throw (1.25kg) | 54.54 | Curtis Griffith-Parker | London | 2005 |
| JB | Javelin throw (600g) | 66.95 | Ben East | Berkshire | 2018 |
| JB | Hammer throw (4kg) | 70.78 | Andrew Tolputt | Berkshire | 1982 |
| IB | 100 m | 10.54 | Mark Lewis-Francis | West Midlands | 1998 |
| IB | 200 m | 21.32 | Sean Appiah | Essex | 2024 |
| IB | 400 m | 47.18 | Chris Clarke | Berkshire | 2006 |
| IB | 800 m | 1:50.93 | Michael Rimmer | Merseyside | 2002 |
| IB | 1500 m | 3:49.15 | Matthew Shirling | Merseyside | 2012 |
| IB | 3000 m | 8:20.00 | Kevin Steere | Norfolk | 1971 |
| IB | 100 m hurdles (91.5cm) | 12.69 | Jaiden Dean | Norfolk | 2022 |
| IB | 400 m hurdles (84cm) | 51.83 | Samael Lunt | Cheshire | 2022 |
| IB | 1500 m steeplechase | 4:13.66 | Zac Seddon | Berkshire | 2010 |
| IB | 4 × 100 m relay | 41.85 | | London | 2010 |
| IB | High jump | 2.12 | Femi Abejide | London | 1981 |
| IB | Long jump | 7.47 | Bernard Yeboah | Surrey | 2002 |
| IB | Triple jump | 15.91 | Jonathan Moore | West Midlands | 2000 |
| IB | Pole vault | 4.86 | Frankie Johnson | Bedfordshire | 2017 |
| IB | Shot put (5kg) | 20.48 | Carl Myerscough | Lancashire | 1996 |
| IB | Discus throw (1.5kg) | 61.24 | Emeka Udechuku | London | 1995 |
| IB | Javelin throw (700g) | 77.12 | James Whiteaker | Kent | 2014 |
| IB | Hammer throw (5kg) | 73.58 | Andrew Tolputt | Berkshire | 1984 |
| SB | 100 m | 10.40 | Mike Powell | London | 1980 |
| SB | 200 m | 20.98 | Julian Thomas | West Midlands | 2005 |
| SB | 200 m | 20.98 | Matthew Hudson-Smith | West Midlands | 2013 |
| SB | 400 m | 46.26 | Mark Hylton | Berkshire | 1995 |
| SB | 800 m | 1:48.60 | Paul Burgess | Leicestershire | 1989 |
| SB | 1500 m | 3:45.90 | Clifton Bradeley | Staffordshire | 1984 |
| SB | 3000 m | 8:10.50 | John Nuttall | Lancashire | 1985 |
| SB | 110 m hurdles (99cm) | 13.69 | Jack Meredith | Merseyside | 2010 |
| SB | 400 m hurdles (91.5cm) | 51.50 | Max Robertson | Somerset | 1982 |
| SB | 2000 m steeplechase | 5:38.20 | Spencer Duval | Staffordshire | 1989 |
| SB | 4 × 100 m relay | 41.28 | | Middlesex | 2009 |
| SB | High jump | 2.25 | Geoff Parsons | Kent | 1983 |
| SB | Long jump | 7.68 | Jonathan Moore | West Midlands | 2001 |
| SB | Triple jump | 15.92 | Lawrence Lynch | London | 1985 |
| SB | Pole vault | 5.16 | Ben Flint | South Yorkshire | 1998 |
| SB | Shot put (6kg) | 20.64 | Carl Myerscough | Somerset | 1998 |
| SB | Discus throw (1.75kg) | 61.87 | Lawrence Okoye | Surrey | 2010 |
| SB | Javelin throw (800g) | 73.41 | Harry Huges | Suffolk | 2016 |
| SB | Hammer throw (6kg) | 76.84 | Jake Norris | Berkshire | 2017 |
| JG | 100 m | 11.58 | Ashleigh Nelson | Staffordshire | 2005 |
| JG | 200 m | 24.00 | Diane Smith | Middlesex | 1989 |
| JG | 300 m | 36.20 | Jeslyn Agyei-Kyem | Surrey | 2018 |
| JG | 800 m | 2:06.22 | Tilly Simpson | Derby | 2015 |
| JG | 1500 m | 4:23.58 | Jessica Judd | Essex | 2009 |
| JG | 75 m hurdles (76cm) | 10.90 | Pippa Earley | Surrey | 2015 |
| JG | 4 × 100 m relay | 47.37 | | Surrey | 2012 |
| JG | High jump | 1.77 | Lee Haggett | London | 1986 |
| JG | Long jump | 6.22 | Margaret Cheetham | Merseyside | 1983 |
| JG | Pole vault | 3.62 | Emillie Oakden | Sussex | 2018 |
| JG | Shot put | 13.92 | Susan King | Suffolk | 1979 |
| JG | Discus throw (1kg) | 39.89 | Sophie Mace | Surrey | 2013 |
| JG | Javelin throw (500g) | 44.23 | Freya Jones | Hampshire | 2008 |
| JG | Hammer throw (3kg) | 58.01 | Pheobe Baggott | Staffordshire | 2016 |
| IG | 100 m | 11.63 | Darryl Neita | London | 2012 |
| IG | 200 m | 23.62 | Vernicha James | London | 2000 |
| IG | 300 m | 37.93 | Cheriece Hylton | Kent | 2013 |
| IG | 800 m | 2:03.12 | Phoebe Gill | Hertfordshire | 2023 |
| IG | 1500 m | 4:16.24 | Georgia Peel | Hampshire | 2009 |
| IG | 3000 m | 9:27.15 | Harriet Knowles-Jones | Greater Manchester | 2014 |
| IG | 80 m hurdles (76cm) | 10.85 | Thea Brown | Cheshire | 2023 |
| IG | 300 m hurdles (76cm) | 41.48 | Perri Shakes-Drayton | London | 2005 |
| IG | 1500 m steeplechase | 4:54.82 | Yasmin Austridge | Kent | 2015 |
| IG | 4 × 100 m relay | 46.10 | | Surrey | 2016 |
| IG | High jump | 1.83 | Aileen Wilson | Leicestershire | 2000 |
| IG | Long jump | 6.38 | Margaret Cheetham | Merseyside | 1985 |
| IG | Triple jump | 12.22 | Amy Williams | Cheshire | 2013 |
| IG | Pole vault | 3.93 | Molly Caudery | Cornwall | 2015 |
| IG | Shot put (3kg) | 15.08 | Sophie McKinna | Norfolk | 2010 |
| IG | Discus throw (1kg) | 49.36 | Claire Smithson | Sussex | 1999 |
| IG | Javelin throw (500g) | 52.21 | Emma Hamplett | Staffordshire | 2014 |
| IG | Hammer throw (3kg) | 65.06 | Katie Head | Essex | 2016 |
| SG | 100 m | 11.59 | Rebecca Drummond | Staffordshire | 1995 |
| SG | 200 m | 23.40 | Simone Jacobs | Berkshire | 1984 |
| SG | 400 m | 53.99 | Hannah Williams | Hampshire | 2016 |
| SG | 800 m | 2:04.40 | Khahisa Mhlanga | Essex | 2017 |
| SG | 1500 m | 4:15.08 | Amy Griffiths | Leicestershire | 2014 |
| SG | 3000 m | 9:04.37 | Paula Radcliffe | Bedfordshire | 1992 |
| SG | 100 m hurdles (84cm) | 13.50 | Lesley-Anne Skeete | Somerset | 1986 |
| SG | 400 m hurdles (76cm) | 57.81 | Hayley McLean | Essex | 2013 |
| SG | 1500 m steeplechase | 4:40.23 | Victoria Weir | Devon | 2016 |
| SG | 4 × 100 m relay | 46.80 | | Surrey | 2017 |
| SG | High jump | 1.88 | Vikki Hubbard | Lincolnshire | 2006 |
| SG | Pole vault | 4.20 | Molly Caudery | Cornwall | 2017 |
| SG | Long jump | 6.65 | Fiona May | Derbyshire | 1989 |
| SG | Triple jump | 12.88 | Ahtollah Rose | Greater Manchester | 2011 |
| SG | Shot put (4kg) | 15.65 | Eden Francis | Leicestershire | 2007 |
| SG | Discus throw (1kg) | 52.74 | Claire Smithson | Sussex | 2001 |
| SG | Javelin throw (600g) | 50.54 | Izzy Jeffs | Somerset | 2010 |
| SG | Hammer throw (4kg) | 61.65 | 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 | English Schools' Athletics Championships Results | English Schools' Athletics Championships Results |
| Athlete | Olympic Medals | World Championships Medals | Senior | Intermediate | Junior |
| Mo 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, 1997 |
| Jessica Ennis-Hill | heptathlon, 2016 heptathlon, 2012 | heptathlon, 2015 heptathlon, 2011 heptathlon, 2009 | | high Jump, 2002 | high jump, 2000 10th, high jump, 1999 15th, heptathlon, 1999 |
| Kelly Holmes | 800 m, 2004 1500 m, 2004 | | | | 1500 m, 1987 |
| Greg Rutherford | long jump, 2016 long jump, 2012 | long jump, 2015 | | 4th, long jump, 2004 4th, long jump, 2003 | 5th, long jump, 2001 |
| Alistair Brownlee | triathlon, 2012 | | cross country, 2006 | | |
| Phillips Idowu | | triple jump, 2009 | triple jump, 1997 triple jump, 1996 | | |
| Paula Radcliffe | | marathon, 2005 | 3000 m, 1992 1500 m, 1991 | | 8th, 1500 m, 1988 |
| Kelly Sotherton | heptathlon, 2004 | heptathlon, 2007 | long jump, 1995 heptathlon, 1994 | heptathlon, 1992 4th, 300 m, 1992 | |
| Darren Campbell | 200 m, 2000 | 100 m, 2003 | | 200 m, 1989 | 200 m, 1988 |
| Dean Macey | | decathlon, 2001 decathlon, 1999 | decathlon, 1995 | | |
| Jonathan Brownlee | triathlon, 2012 | | 11th, cross country, 2008 | 23rd, 3000 m, 2006 | 146th, cross country, 2004 |
| Lisa Dobriskey | | 1500 m, 2009 | 1500 m, 2001 | 800 m, 1999 | 800 m, 1998 4th, cross country, 1998 5th, 800 m, 1997 |
| Hannah England | | 1500 m, 2011 | 1500 m, 2005 | 12th, cross country, 2003 | 5th, 1500 m, 2001 61st, cross country, 2000 |
| Nicola Sanders | | 400 m, 2007 | 400 m hurdles, 2000 400 m hurdles, 1999 | 300 m, 1998 4th, 200 m, 1997 | |
| Tasha Danvers | 400 m hurdles, 2008 | | 100 m hurdles, 1995 | 300 m hurdles, 1994 300 m hurdles, 1993 | |
| Robert Grabarz | high jump, 2012 | | high jump, 2005 | high jump, 2004 | |
| Sophie Hitchon | hammer throw, 2016 | | hammer throw, 2009 | | |
| Jenny Meadows | | 800 m, 2009 | 5th, 400 m, 1999 400 m, 1998 | 5th, 300 m, 1997 | 800 m, 1995 |
| Andy Turner | | 110 m hurdles, 2011 | 110 m hurdles, 1999 | 100 m hurdles, 1997 | |