Southampton’s athletics club make history today as they compete in the national final of the youth development league in Birmingham.

The league is divided into two age groups and Southampton AC will be competing in the national final of the lower age group made up of young athletes from the U13 & U15 age groups at the Alexandra Stadium.

This is the first time in Southampton’s history that they have made the final, which is made up of the eight strongest teams for these age groups in the UK.

Southampton will take on Blackheath & Bromley AC, Reading AC, Sale Harriers, Edinburgh AC, Preston Harriers, Rugby & Northampton AC and Swansea Harriers in a stadium that just two weeks ago hosted the best athletes in the world in the diamond league.

Southampton qualified through their performances in their four matches in Premier League 1 of the Southern section of the league, culminating in a second place finish at Tooting Bec at the end of July.

The club will be taking 60 young athletes to compete across the two age groups, many of which currently stand within the top 10 of the UK rankings.

Two young athletes, Ellie Hodgson (shot putt) – a year 9 pupil at Wildern School – and James Jerram (800m), a year 8 pupil at King Edwards School, set new league records during the season.

Andy Fisher, Head Coach of the club’s Academy, said: “What is remarkable about the achievement is the breadth of events that the athletes excel in and the team spirit demonstrated in competing for the club in the various individual events.

“The club has always had exceptional young athletes, but never before has it had so many across all of the different events.

“We are immensely proud of the achievements of the club’s young athletes in reaching the national finals.

“This, alongside the senior men’s promotion to division 1 of the British athletics league, demonstrates we are now tangibly one of the best athletics clubs in the UK.

“We are determined to provide the right coaching environment and progression so that our young athletes continue to thrive and Southampton is being recognised as one of the best places in the UK to develop athletics talent.

“The young athletes very much deserve their day at an amazing venue in the national finals which is their reward for all their hard work throughout the season.”

Southampton AC Young Athlete teams (today) U13 girls: Hannah Childs, Grace Griffiths, Jasmyn Allen, Laura Jones, Amy Farbrother, Amber Blackman, Isabel Richardson, Elizabeth Adamson, Olivia Reavey, Poppy Wright, Ciara Blount, Lucy-Jane Matthews, Ettie Hammond, Samantha Callaway, Ruby Clements, Shannon McCosh, Elisha Parham.

U15 girls: Ellie Hodgson, Georgia O’Dell, Abigail Voller, Freya Coe, Amaya Scott, Hannah Griffiths, Grace Reavey, Lizzie Payne, Aimee Coppin, Grace Kelly, Holly Powell, Isabelle Bennett, Jade Clements, Izzy McCormac, Molly Jeneway, Ariela Richardson U13 boys: James Jerram, Oliver Bridges, Riley Woodman, Leon Longhurst, Patrick Fisher, Ben Williams, Liam Higgins, Oliver Thatcher, Ben Vaughan, Callum Gregson, Joshua Wise, Bradley Jenvey.

U15 boys: Sam Bridges, Sam Jones, Rizwan Shah Cemal, Reiss Jarvis, Lynden Olowe, Ben Schofield, Zak Mahamed, Jack Higgins, Max Satterly, Patrick Whelan, Tanaka Madzvamutse, Arm Harawan, Kieran Apps, Ben Upfold, Joshua Nash, George Rosam, Daniel Hoiles