Outwood Grange Academy A-Level Student Finishes 4th In British Athletics 200m Final

A teenage athlete from Wakefield has produced the performance of her career so far to finish fourth at the Muller British Athletics Championships 2020, in Manchester, live on BBC One.

Competing against the country’s very best, Wakefield-based Tamara Miller, 17,  smashed her personal best not once, but twice as she agonisingly just missed out on a place on the podium.

The Outwood Grange Academy student and Wakefield Harriers athlete first broke her PB when she finished third in her heat, in a time of 25.04. In the final she managed to improve further, smashing her PB to 24.67 as the teenager finished an impressive fourth, behind winner Hannah Williams. 

Reflecting on her impressive performance, Tamara said: “I am really proud of my performance at the British Championships. I’ve been working and training really hard, despite the ongoing uncertainties at the moment, to be ready and it feels great to get the reward of improving my personal best.”

Although Tamara is currently studying for her A-levels at the Potovens Lane-based secondary academy, she is also on the UK Athletics Youth Talent Programme (YTP), part of the talent to performance pathway for talented English athletes between 16-18.

Currently ranked 2nd in the country for her age at both 100m and 200m, Tamara won the Under 17s 100m and 200m events at the 2019 Yorkshire Championships after winning her heats.

The two-year YTP consists of practical and physical training alongside workshops and will help develop Tamara’s range of skills and abilities while teaching her the behaviour needed for success at the senior level. 

This will be provided alongside Tamara’s current training programme and support at the Leeds Beckett University athletics talent hub. 

Due to Tamara still being in full-time education, the YTP will allow the Wakefield Harrier to gain a Diploma in Sporting Excellence. The Diploma will enable Tamara to progress to further or higher education and boost her employment chances within a related field.

Tamara’s principal at Outwood Grange Academy, Brian Kelly, said:

“We are beyond proud of Tamara and her achievements so far. 

“We were delighted when Tamara was selected for the YTP and we were all cheering her on through our TV screens when she ran in Manchester. It was an absolutely brilliant performance and we could not be prouder.

“We are excited to watch one of our exceptional students continue their sporting journey and hopefully pull on the GB vest on the international stage.”