Fifty seven club members entered 85 events, down on last year’s 90 entries but we actually came home with a slightly better medal haul (13 Gold, 11 silver and 6 bronze compared with last year’s 9 gold, 15 silver and 6 bronze). Best performance of the weekend was Nana Gyedu’s club record in the Under 15 Girls’ Shot. Her put of 13.05 puts her half a metre clear at the top of the current UK rankings and 6th on the UK all-time list. Ruth Onyekwe was probably next best picking up golds in the Senior Women’s 100m and 100m Hurdles as well as silver in the 200m. The strong headwind slowed times for all the sprinters but there were still good results for Vera Chinedu in the U20 women’s 100m – first in 12.23 and Shiann Brock-Walters 1st in 12.83 in the Under 17 100m.
Over the longer distances Lara Atkinson coped well with a very tactical 800m and 1500m picking up silver in the first, and gold in the second. Bailey Massey got silver in the U20 Steeplechase for men, whilst Molly Hawkins got bronze in the women’s equivalent. Kody Powell got a silver in the Under 20 Men’s 400m, whilst Jade Fitt sorted out a her stride pattern for silver in the Under 20 Women’s 400m Hurdles. Walks wise, there were gold medals for Sophie Lewis-Ward, Hannah Hopper and Alex McHeath – the latter in a new club record for 3k Walk of 15.27.33.
Back on the field, our javelin throwers did well with wins for Paige MacHeath, in the Under 20 Women’s event, and Eddie Brown in the Under 15 Boys’ events. There was a silver for Maddie Cattenach in the Under 15 Girls, and bronze for Natalie Mann in the Senior Women’s. Other throwers to do well were Abbie Stewart with PB’s in both the Under 15 Shot and Discus for bronze and silver medals respectively. The evergreen Andy Kruszewski picked up two bronzes in the Senior Men’s Shot and Discus. Sam Hunt picked up silver in the Hammer and the Javelin, and Bronze in the Discus.
Jumps wise Luke Okosieme took the Under 17 Men’s High Jump with 1.91m, but only after beating a spirited campaign by Brandon Sikity who cleared 1.88 first time for a new PB. Brandon also added a silver in the Triple Jump for good measure. Ben Stanbury won the Under 20 Men’s High Jump with 1.80m, and then set a good PB of 3.50m in the Pole Vault.
This weekend sees a return to league action with the Under 15’s and Under 13’s at Linford Christie Stadium on Saturday, and the seniors at Dartford on Sunday.