Athlete Analysis: Lily Hartman

Neuff x Athletics Weekly

2025 was a "very long outdoor season" for Lily Hartman, but that's not to say she hasn't come out of this past year with new records and highlights to fondly look back on!

Currently a multi-eventer for Chelmsford AC, Lily is a hardworking and competitive 15-year-old with a burning desire to take her athletics to the next level!

Taking part in so many athletics events while studying for GCSEs is never an easy feat to achieve. Nevertheless, Lily has managed to make it all flow tremendously well recently, and her highlights from this past year are living proof of that!

Upon reflecting on her most recent season, Lily is particularly proud of achieving the below...

• Sub-40 in 300m
• Sub-25 in 200m
• Sub-44 for 300m hurdles
• Club record in 4x200m relay
• Club record in 4x300 relay
• Club record in 200m
  

With 2026 firmly in Lily's eyeline, she's hoping to achieve a whole lot more in what will be one of her most intense years yet. She will be undertaking her final GCSE exams, yet she will still strive for even bigger successes, both locally and nationally!

In this next instalment of our 2025 Ambassador Series with Athletics Weekly, we asked Lily a few questions to discover how athletics keeps her grounded, why variety is vital for her development, and how she hopes her story will inspire others to keep motivated in their events.

Given that you’re only 15 years old and you’ve been competing since you were around 9 years old, how did you become so interested in athletics at such a young age?

I’ve always been an active person, even from a really young age. I tried out lots of sports, but I just loved the feeling of sprinting, pushing myself and racing others. I started at a local athletics club when I was about 9, and my passion for the sport just grew from there. Once I got into proper training and started competing, I knew this was something I really wanted to stick with. It’s just always felt like something that’s right for me.

As you’re still in school, how does athletics help you to keep a positive mindset throughout your studies and other pressures you may be facing as a teenager?

Athletics is definitely my outlet. It helps me switch off from school stress and social stuff. Training gives me structure and something to focus on outside of exams, homework, and everyday pressures. It’s also taught me discipline and resilience, which I carry into my studies. Plus, I feel like when I’m physically active, I’m mentally in a better place too.

Your gold medal in the 300m at last year’s English Schools has clearly been a particular highlight for you up until now. Why was this such a monumental victory for you, and how did this achievement help you move forward and improve as an athlete?

Winning English Schools was massive for me, not just because of the medal, but because of everything leading up to it.

I had worked so hard that season, and I really wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Standing on the top of the podium just felt like all that effort paid off.

It gave me loads of confidence and motivation, and it also made me realise I wanted to keep challenging myself with new events and goals.

You’ve experimented with a few different events this year (namely the 300m hurdles). Why is it important for you to have variety in your athletics at the moment?

I think it’s really important to keep learning and growing, and trying new events has helped me do that.

The 300m hurdles, has pushed me both physically and technically, and it’s actually made me a stronger athlete overall. I’ve also started doing some multi-events like heptathlon, which has been so much fun.

Having variety keeps things exciting and helps me figure out what I really enjoy and where I might want to specialise in the future.

You've been taking your final GCSE exams alongside your competitions this year. How have you managed to balance your love for athletics with your schoolwork in what has likely been a testing time over these past few months?

There was plenty of juggling between training and revision, but I knew it was only for a short time.

I stayed organised, stuck to a routine, and kept reminding myself that the short period of suffering would hopefully pay off in the long run.

Balancing both was tough, but my love for athletics kept me motivated throughout.

Can you see yourself honing in on any specific events as you get older? Or do you think you’ll continue to compete as a combined eventer? What are the reasons for this?

At the moment, I’m really enjoying the combination of sprints, hurdles and multi-events.

I like the challenge and variety that heptathlon brings, and it suits me so that I never get bored. But I also know that as I get older, I might want to focus more on either hurdles or 400m, depending on how things go.

I think it’s good to stay open, especially while I’m still developing as an athlete.

And finally, how do you hope to inspire others with your story and your achievements? Whether that be your friends or anyone else who may be thinking of taking up athletics for the first time?

I’d love to show others that you don’t have to be the best straight away. You just have to enjoy it and be willing to work hard. Everyone improves at their own rate, and you shouldn’t stress yourself out if other people are improving earlier.

Athletics has given me so much confidence and happiness, I’ve made some great friends along the way and I hope my journey encourages other young people, to get involved and see what they’re capable of.