Playground to Podium successes in team selections
A Playground to Podium (P2P) athlete has been selected to run for ParalympicsGB at the Anniversary Games this weekend.
F/T37 athlete Kelly was first identified through the Playground to Podium (P2P) programme supported by the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) and England Athletics. P2P was a dedicated initiative designed to identify and nurture disabled young people with the potential to be elite athletes. It offered a framework to enhance existing player pathways and provide increased opportunities to achieve at the top end of performance.
Kelly Hutchins was spotted at the Wesport event by Job King in 2011 and is now a member of Team Bath and coached by Rob Ellchuk who also coaches Katrina Hart and Ben Rushgrove.
Young sprinters are doing well - her training partner and fellow P2P athlete Sophie Kamlish is ranked number two in 2013 and made her debut in the IPC World Championships this week coming fourth and a personal best. She came fifth in the T44 100m (the women's event equivalent to Jonnie Peacock's) and recently won her 100m at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final in Birmingham.
Also competing in Lyon is Sophie Hahn who won the T38 100m, in addition to a a silver, a new European and World record. Sophie, 16, is the same age as Kelly and is coached by Joe McDonnell at Charnwood AC. Joe has recently joined the England Athletics Local Coach Development Programme (LCDP) and his club have a great track record of supporting disabled athletes with Libby Clegg and Dan Greaves amongst others!
Programmes put in place by England Athletics support the development of our young disabled athletes and inspire new young people to give athletics a go. This can be seen by a growing number of P2P and talent Identification athletes such as Kelly, the two Sophies, Jamie Carter, Scott Jones and others performing at the highest level.
Local England Athletics Club and Coach Support Officer Helen Pearce echoes what is happening around the country:
"I had another email this morning from parents of a child with cerebral palsy asking about athletics as she has been inspired by Sophie Hahn!"
National Disability Manager Liz Purbrick said:
"I'm thrilled with the performances of the athletes at the IPC world championships- many of whom came through our Playground to Podium Programme and Talent Introduction days. Their fantastic results are testament to the support from their clubs and coaches, some of which are supported on the LCDP and NCDP. The interest from new athletes, as well as clubs and coaches wanting to do more for disabled athletes, following the World Championships and this weekend's Anniversary Games is testament to the legacy of London 2012."
