English Schools Cross Country Championships, Nottingham
We had four athletes representing either London or Kent at the English Schools Cross Country Championships on Saturday. This is the final stage of the competition which sees athletes from 45 counties compete for individual and team glory.
The athletes earned their coveted place on the team after their success in the earlier rounds of competition. The English Schools competition is an integral part of athlete development, with many recognisable names from Olympic and Commonwealth Games having competed in the English Schools as young and upcoming athletes.
Samuel Scrase-Field finished in an excellent 64th place in the intermediate boys race for London, one place and one second ahead of Olly Buck.
Iris Williams crossed the line in 108th place for Kent in the junior girls race and Amelia Lawrence was 164th in the intermediate girls representing London.
Kent Indoor T & F Championships, Lee Valley
The Kent Indoor Championships mark the end of the indoor season for most and is also a pre-season open meeting for some, writes Mick Bond. Always held at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre in conjunction with the Middlesex and Hertfordshire championships it is known locally as the “Tri Counites”. The track was re-laid last summer, and the track management were insisting on athletes either having what are known as Christmas Tree spikes or blunt normal spikes to reduce wear on the new surface. With a UK Shortage of the Christmas Tree type a large metal file was put to much use at the call room to blunt standard spikes down to an acceptable level! Despite this complication the meeting was as good as always with lots of officials to ensure a well-run meeting and lots of spectators to give the event some atmosphere. Across the weekend there was plenty of drama with new PB’s set by many and a total of 23 medals picked up.
Hannah Hopper ~ Emily Cadman with her coach Kenny Walters ~ Chris Loudon & Matt Preston
Under 15 Girls: Emily Cadman capped off her amazing indoor season with two championship bests (200m – 25.27s and 300m – 40.71s (Club Record)), a tally of three gold medals (60m, 200m and 300m) and now starts work with coach Kenny Walters for the outdoor season. Nia Thomas competing in her first season as an U15 also won gold in the 60m hurdles and looks a fine prospect for the future.
Under 17 Women: Nuriah Orhurhu took the coveted 60m gold in this age group with a PB of 7.80s. Over the 300m training partner Faith Assah, excelled for silver in an indoor PB of 41.90s. Amelia Lawrence matched this over 1500m running her first indoor race only the day after competing in the English Schools XC Championships . Keziah Olaleye had a good weekend in some ways getting PB’s in the 60m hurdles, 300m and triple jump but just missed out on the medals finishing 4th, 4th and 5th respectively.
Under 20 Women: There was gold for Chichi Cooper in a big PB of 11.53m in the triple jump.
Senior Women: Derin Aderinto and Mary Schouvaloff both made the 60m final with Derin taking silver in a PB of 7.92s. Victory Ogbah won the 60m hurdles unopposed in a PB of 12.45s, whilst Hannah Hopper was an easy winner of the 2000m race walk in a championship best of 9:53.25s and Natalie Mann (W35) picked up bronze with a put of 7.29m in the shot.
Under 15 Boys: Elijah Olaleye ran PB’s over both the 60m hurdles and the 300m taking silver in the first and gold in the second.
Under 17 Men: Felix Tynan ended his indoor season with a good bronze in the 800m in 2:13.66s and looks in good shape to go quicker outdoors.
Under 20 Men: The club had eight athletes entered in the 60 meters event so odds were good for medals and the athletes didn’t disappoint with Dante Legister coming out of “hibernation” to win in 6.96s whilst Divine Akinlolu dipped well to claim the bronze in 7.09s. Shaquille Fernandez-Folkes preferred the longer 200m sprint and was rewarded with a gold medal and a big PB of 22.76s. In the 60m hurdles Carlos Rojo-Thigo was leading over the last hurdle but just got out dipped on the line, taking second in 8.90s compared to the winners 8.89s.
Senior Men: Fuad Busoir ran a great tactical 400m race which combined with a dive for the line just got him the win. Chris Loudon (M35) smashed his PB dropping from 4.12 to 4.04.08s to win gold in the 1500m, with Matt Preston (M50) taking the bronze, whilst Brandon Sikity jumped 6.10m for bronze in the long jump. Omari Markland-Montgomery’s time of 7.09s in the 60m heats would have got him silver in the final but for a hamstring pull just after 30 meters.
Friday Night 5K Under the Lights, Battersea Park
Thomas Brooke had a fine run over 5k in Battersea Park on Friday evening crossing the line in second place with debut road time for the distance of 15:12.
SportsShoes x Podium Underground, Canary Wharf
Billed by SportsShoes.com as the first EVER event of its kind in the UK. A night of fast and furious racing on an indoor go-kart track, making it one of the most unique spectacles in athletic history. They were proud to support elite athletes and take competition to the next level!
The event consisted of heats, semi-finals and final for the men and semi-finals and final for the women.
In the women's category Holly Dixon, Megan Marchant and 15 year old Emer Tynan all progressed to the final where Holly finished third, Megan fifth and Emer twelfth.
For the men Arthur Roux made it through to the semi-final but was unable to progress any further. Luke Ford unfortunately had to bow out at the heats stage.
