THE Paula Radcliffe Stadium, in Loughborough, played host to its now annual International Week for athletics. The week began last weekend with the senior home international and continued through to this weekend with a series of events for age group athletes.

Harlow AC was delighted that Bebe Jackson was selected to compete for England in the Throws Pathway event. This event brought together the best able bodied and para athletes across the throwing disciplines at U17 to U23 level. Jackson was one of only six para athletes for the English team.

Jackson’s event was the 1kg discus for women. Perhaps spurred on by throwing against the likes of Taia Tunstall, who is knocking on the door of full international selection, and Meghan Porterfield, new Scottish record holder, Jackson put together a good series of throws. And whilst she is not throwing the prodigious distances of the aforementioned pair, she is throwing well enough to interest the Junior Commonwealth Para selectors.

Her distance of 22.67m, in Round 6, set a new personal best. It was also good enough to be the best Para throw in the competition. However, Oluwafunmilola Oduwaiye, of Cardiff and Wales, opted to throw just the shot putt. She has the best discus mark in the country currently. Jackson now has to keep throwing well and take every opportunity to improve her mark further, until selections are announced on 19 June.