SPRINTER ON A ROLL AFTER VICTORY IN BIG JEWISH SPORTS FESTIVAL, WRITES EMILY MOSS
ELLIE EDWARDS describes competing in the Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem this year as the best experience of her life.
The 16-year-old won the 200m and was third in the 100m in a multi-sport competition that features 9000 Jewish athletes from 72 countries.
“I enjoyed meeting Jewish athletes from all over the world,” the Trafford athlete says. “The opening ceremony was completely sold out with 40,000 people. It was incredibly emotional to walk out as a member of Team GB.”
As the only female athlete in the British team, Ellie was even more determined to perform to her best. She clocked a PB of 12.68 to take bronze in the 100m, before returning the following day to win the 200m in 26.19, just a fraction outside her PB set the month before.
Ellie later returned to win another bronze as part of a mixed relay team.
Surprised by her success, she explains: “There are so many Jewish people in USA and Israel, they were expected to clean up the medals. I hadn’t expected to win any, especially as I was competing against 18-year-olds.”
Such was the standard across the events, Olympic finalist Steven Solomon from Australia did not even win the men’s 400m. The GB team only won two individual golds in total, one of which went to Ellie, and the teenager also claimed three of Britain’s 31 medals.
The event marked a special milestone in Ellie’s life and she was thrilled to be able to share it with the rest of her family. “I was so pleased that my mum and dad (Francine and Eddie) were there, together with my three sisters and two of my grandparents, as it really was an amazing experience,” says Ellie.
Ellie trains four times a week as part of a mixed sprint group guided by Tom Cullen and Iheani Ihediwa at Longford Park in Manchester.
“Everyone was so proud of my performances in Israel, which meant so much to me,” she says, “and I really want to repay them by staying injury-free and seeing my times plummet.”
Ellie started athletics in Year 3 after she realised she had a talent for running after winning her school’s cross country race and later taking top spot in the Manchester Cross Country Championships, a feat that no other pupil from her school had ever achieved.
Ellie had previously played football for several years, so she knew she had good speed. “Doing athletics gives me a sense of achievement and purpose in my life,” she says. “I enjoy the adrenaline rush and the tempo of sprinting. You need to be focused and strong all the way to the finishing line.
“Unlike distance running you cannot afford any mistakes. It can be incredibly cruel, but getting across that finishing line first or getting a PB makes everything worthwhile.”
Ellie is just starting A-Levels in biology, psychology, history and PE at Manchester High School for Girls, having recently attained eight A* and two A grades in her GCSEs. After she finishes school she hopes to study psychology or train to become a physio. However, Ellie’s biggest aim is to represent her country at a major senior athletics championship.
Having been lucky enough to be in the Olympic Stadium on Super Saturday last year, it is not surprising that Ellie names Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis as her favourite athletes, along with Usain Bolt.
“The Olympics really inspired me,” she says. “I want to get a senior GB vest in future.”
The 16-year-old won the 200m and was third in the 100m in a multi-sport competition that features 9000 Jewish athletes from 72 countries.
“I enjoyed meeting Jewish athletes from all over the world,” the Trafford athlete says. “The opening ceremony was completely sold out with 40,000 people. It was incredibly emotional to walk out as a member of Team GB.”
As the only female athlete in the British team, Ellie was even more determined to perform to her best. She clocked a PB of 12.68 to take bronze in the 100m, before returning the following day to win the 200m in 26.19, just a fraction outside her PB set the month before.
Ellie later returned to win another bronze as part of a mixed relay team.
Surprised by her success, she explains: “There are so many Jewish people in USA and Israel, they were expected to clean up the medals. I hadn’t expected to win any, especially as I was competing against 18-year-olds.”
Such was the standard across the events, Olympic finalist Steven Solomon from Australia did not even win the men’s 400m. The GB team only won two individual golds in total, one of which went to Ellie, and the teenager also claimed three of Britain’s 31 medals.
The event marked a special milestone in Ellie’s life and she was thrilled to be able to share it with the rest of her family. “I was so pleased that my mum and dad (Francine and Eddie) were there, together with my three sisters and two of my grandparents, as it really was an amazing experience,” says Ellie.
Ellie trains four times a week as part of a mixed sprint group guided by Tom Cullen and Iheani Ihediwa at Longford Park in Manchester.
“Everyone was so proud of my performances in Israel, which meant so much to me,” she says, “and I really want to repay them by staying injury-free and seeing my times plummet.”
Ellie started athletics in Year 3 after she realised she had a talent for running after winning her school’s cross country race and later taking top spot in the Manchester Cross Country Championships, a feat that no other pupil from her school had ever achieved.
Ellie had previously played football for several years, so she knew she had good speed. “Doing athletics gives me a sense of achievement and purpose in my life,” she says. “I enjoy the adrenaline rush and the tempo of sprinting. You need to be focused and strong all the way to the finishing line.
“Unlike distance running you cannot afford any mistakes. It can be incredibly cruel, but getting across that finishing line first or getting a PB makes everything worthwhile.”
Ellie is just starting A-Levels in biology, psychology, history and PE at Manchester High School for Girls, having recently attained eight A* and two A grades in her GCSEs. After she finishes school she hopes to study psychology or train to become a physio. However, Ellie’s biggest aim is to represent her country at a major senior athletics championship.
Having been lucky enough to be in the Olympic Stadium on Super Saturday last year, it is not surprising that Ellie names Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis as her favourite athletes, along with Usain Bolt.
“The Olympics really inspired me,” she says. “I want to get a senior GB vest in future.”
This article first appeared in Athletics Weekly 10th October 2013.
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