Billy Eccles at his first attempt at the steeplechase and, after very little practice, finished 4th in the under 17’s 1500m event in 5:01.
Billy ran in the 1500m Steeple Chase, Under 17 Men. (13 steeplechase barriers plus 3 water jumps)
Lap 1– 300m+(over one steeplechase barrier). The race was taken out a fast pace but Billy settled into his running in 5th/6th place in 54sec.
Lap 2 (400m over 4 barriers plus water jump) – 83sec. Time at 700m – 2 mins 17sec. 5th place.
His first attempt at the water jump was perfect – one foot in the water, next step out of the water.
Lap 3 (85 sec.) Time at 1100m – 3mins 42sec. 5th place
Last lap (79 sec). Customary fast finish by Billy in a time of 5m 01sec. 4th place.
Considering his only experience of the event was watching an Olympic final on TV, it was a great effort against more experienced and probably older runners.