Weekly Update - 14th May 2025

Kent County Track & Field Championships, Ashford (Sat. 10th/Sun. 11th May)

Gold Rush! After 25 years of compiling statistics on this meeting it was great to see us get our best ever haul of gold medals, topping out with 20 victories across the weekend (previous best 18 in 2009), along with a grand total of 38 medals, reports Mick Bond. This event is the first proper championships of the summer and with the sun shining all weekend it made for a great two day’s athletics. With so many great performances it is hard to list out everything, but these are some of the highlights of the highlights!

In the under 17 men’s javelin, Freddie Luckett threw a massive 63.22m in the 5th round and is now within touching distance of Steve Backley’s club record of 64.34m!

Three athletes hit double gold – Miya Cook (U15G), won the shot and javelin whilst Kendrick Onolememen (U15B) won the shot and discus (both are in the first year of the age group). Michael Bridge (U17M) won the shot and discus. All three are testament to the strength of the throws coaching program at Sutcliffe.

Miya Cook (Photo courtesy of Ashford AC)

On the track Elijah Olaleye continues to impress with an easy win in the U17M 400m hurdles just outside the championship best and remains top of the UK rankings, whilst training partner Hans Nmaju remains top of the U17B 100m hurdle rankings following a comfortable win in his event despite clipping the last hurdle.

Hans Nmaju winning 100m hurdles with Elijah Olaleye in second

In the middle distance events it was great to see more club representation than in previous years with Amelia Lawrence (pictured below) excelling to win the U20W 1500m with a 16 second PB of 4:37.84s.

In the sprints the club certainly held its own wining the senior women’s 100m (Doyin Aderinto 12.29s) U20M 100m (Michael Somade 10.79s), U15B 200m (Jovani Lyndsey 23.63s) and U17M 200m (Zavier Brathwaite 22.53s).

Some Podium Photographs

Sophie Fenner (Gold - SW Hammer) & Natalie Mann (Bronze - SW Hammer) - Lizzy McKen (Gold U15G Triple Jump) & Sophie Floyd (Silver - U15G Discus) - Hannah Hopper (Gold - SW 3000m Walk)

Bideford 10k, Bideford, Devon (Sun. 11th May)

Rose Baker secured her selection for the England Age Group Masters 10k team for the AJ Bell Great North 10k on 6th July when finishing first W60 at the Bideford 10k in a time of 45:10.

Ladywell 10,000m (Sun. 11th May)

This year at the Ladywell 10,000m, promoted by Kent AC, the races were held under both World Masters Athletics (WMA) Rules (maximum sole depth for shoes of 40mm (except shoes with spikes maximum sole depth of 30mm)) and UKA Rules where you must wear compliant shoes for competition on the track (maximum sole depth for shoes of 25mm). 

Mattia Bernardi ran under UKA rules finishing 6th race 2 in 34:24.96s. James Pitts ran under WMA rules finishing 7th overall in his race and 1st M45 in 38:14.61s.

Thamesmead 5 and 10k (Sun. 11th May)

Martin Hawkins was the clubs sole representative at this local event, where he completed the 5k in 24:26 for third overall and 1st M60.