Double for Ben (From Dorset Echo)

Double for Ben

8:54am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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ALL Saints School pupil Ben Westhenry has two reasons to celebrate.

The teenager captured the South West Schools title in the Junior Boys’ 1500m and has been selected to represent Dorset in the same event at the English Schools Track & Field Competition in Sheffield this weekend – the top track and field competition for his age group.

Westhenry was offered his place on the team after making the qualifying time. As Dorset is a small county, it is only allowed to take 25 athletes from all the different ages and events so competition for places is fierce.

Westhenry had to run under 4mins 22secs and although he won the South West Schools race comfortably, he was a second and a half over the time.

However, he remedied the situation the next day by running 4mins 21secs at the Youth Athletes competition in Eton to secure his place on the team.

The Weymouth St Paul’s Harrier, who has only just recovered from an ankle injury, has risen to 16th in the national Under-15 rankings at 1,500m and will be aiming for the top five by the end of the season.

In the 3,000m though, Westhenry is ranked sixth following a 9mins 40.5secs effort at the Mendip Open in Street.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Ben can contact Jan Westhenry by emailing jwesthenry@hotmail.com

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