Five athletes to watch at the English Schools Championships

Innes FitzGerald one of a number of names to look out for at the 92nd edition of this prestigious event

The English Schools Championships is an event that has, for generations, provided a platform to help potential stars of the future shine on a national level.

This year’s edition takes place, for the first time, at the newly built Alexander Stadium. It is one of the biggest athletics events the venue has hosted since last year’s Commonwealth Games.

Over 2000 athletes from 46 counties across England will compete, making it one of the largest track and field competitions in Europe.

Here are just five names who will be worth keeping an eye on over the next two days (June 30 and July 1).

Innes FitzGerald

Innes FitzGerald will take on the senior girls 3000m in Birmingham and aim to continue the dominance she has had in her age group this season.

Earlier on in the year, the 17-year-old enjoyed an astonishing 52-second victory at the English Schools Cross Country Championships (February 25) and added a London Mini Marathon title to her name (April 22).

On the track, she also became England U20 3000m champion earlier this month (June 18).

The only two races that FitzGerald hasn’t won this year were 3000m’s at a BMC meet in Birmingham (May 10) and the Loughborough International (May 21).

With a personal 3000m best of 8:59.67 – which dates back to last July – FitzGerald might perhaps target Paula Radcliffe’s 31-year-old championship record of 9:04.37.

The Devon athlete will line up against recent world U20 world mountain and trail running individual and team champion Rebecca Flaherty. Her 3000m personal best is 9:37.47 though so is not likely to trouble FitzGerald.

Final: Saturday 14:25 

Faith Akinbilejie 

The Blackheath and Bromley athlete will be one of the favourites in the senior girls 100m at the Alexander Stadium.

A European U18 200m and medley relay champion, Akinbilejie is a training partner to Dina Asher-Smith and has a personal best of 11.53 over the 100m, on top of her 23.44 in the 200m.

Last year she was voted as AW’s British U20 female athlete of the year after success at junior level on the continent.

finished third over 200m at the recent England U20/U23 Championships (June 18), behind Success Eduan and Sophie Walton.

Akinbilejie qualified fastest overall with 12.11 (-2.6) in the 100m heats and the title in Birmingham is likely to be between her and Saskia King.

The championship record of 11.59…