Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC Spring Open (Mon. 24th Apr.)
The local weekday evening track open meetings got underway with the Blackheath & Bromley Spring Open at Norman Park, Bromley. Tom Ravenscroft (U15) removed two seconds from his 400 metre personal best with a time of 57.61s. His younger brother Johnny (U13) reduced his 800 metre best by eight seconds to 2:41.58s. Agnes Rock (U17) added 8 centimetres to her long jump best with 4.05m and Celia Yeatman ran a seasons best of 2:40.35s whilst her younger twin sisters Esther and Seren made their debuts for the club.
Highgate Harriers Open Meeting, Parliament Hill (Wed. 26th Apr.)
Delilah Lester (U15) travelled over to Parliament Hill for the Highgate Harriers Open where she made her debut over 1500m, clocking a time of 5:43.4s
Comeback #3 5000m, Battersea Park (Fri. 28th Apr.)
The Comeback 5000m returned to the Millennium Stadium in Battersea Park with racing starting at 6.15pm with graded open races for club runners before concluding with the men’s and women’s elite races. Holly Dixon (pictured below) finished in fifth place in the elite women's race reducing her personal best by eleven seconds to 16:03.46s.
Kent Young Athletes League, Norman Park, Bromley (Sat. 29th Apr.)
The sun came out, the track and field season started in earnest, and all was good in the world as our U15/U13 team recorded their best performance ever in the Kent Young Athletes League, writes Mick Bond. Overall, we finished third out of the eight teams in Division 1 and not far behind Blackheath and Tonbridge who normally dominate this league. This was a great team performance which was matched by some superb individual efforts, and which included not one by three club records.
Under 15 Girls: Third overall in their section we had a double win in the 300m care of Ariana Clarke (43.8s) and Celia Allen (44.3s). In the 1500m Iris Williams dominated the field lapping a number of competitors and finishing fourteen seconds ahead of the next runner in 4:53.2s whilst Celia Yeatman ran a six second PB to win the B-string race in 5:22.6s. in the field Isabelle Stevens added three metres to the club record with a 26.78m hammer throw.
Under 15 Boys: Our under 15 boys team is exceptionally strong this season and won their overall section of the match with ease. Michael Bridge was a triple winner taking first place in the shot, discus and hammer and was ably backed up by new member George Jones who won both the B-string discus and javelin. Elijah Olaleye broke his own club record with an 11.5s run over the 80m hurdles whilst another new member Daniel Obike, who only joined on the Thursday evening before the match, took the honours in the high jump with a clearance of 1.80m just 1cm off the club record! Back on the track we had a double win in the 300m courtesy of Elijah (40.2s) and Rhys Joyeux who ducked under the 40 second barrier with a clocking of 39.9s in the B-race, whilst Kema Jr. Onyemaechi was quickest of all the sprinters running a PB of 11.8s to win the 100m A-string.
Under 13 Girls: This was the first inter-club competition for lots of new members in a very competitive league and all places had to be hard fought. Pride of place goes to Miya Cook who broke the club record in the hammer with a throw of 17.61m.
Miya Cook with proud mum and team manager Debbie Cook
Under 13 Boys: We are currently short of members in this age group but the three who made it did exceptionally well. Caleb Warnke won the 100m sprint and long jump and picked up second in the 200m. Alex Van den Berg-How ran a PB in the 1500m of 4:18.1s then continued running to the long jump pit where he managed to win the B-string event. Monty Brown also had a PB in the 1500m with 5:15.9s and added a B-string 200m win in 29.8s.
National Young Athletes League (Upper Age Group) Tonbridge (Sun. 30th Apr.)
Having been promoted last year to Division 1 we knew standards would be higher and to do well would be more of a challenge, reports Mick Bond. We also knew however that our squad had grown in size, strength and commitment, and that showed as we romped away to win the first match of the season by over 200 points; 1. Cambridge 750, 2. Medway 542). Tonbridge who were 4th with 507 points were missing ten multi-eventers who were away at an event in Somerset and will be much more of a challenge at the next match but with only one team to be promoted at the end of the season this was an ideal start for us.
Under 20 Women: Last year we only had two competing athletes in this squad, this year we jumped up to nine and this was a big part of our win over the other clubs. Chichi Cooper took a welcome break from exam revision to record a 100m PB of 12.64s in the 100m whilst Cerys Daniels returned to the high jump after a four-year break and duly won her event in a PB of 1.51m. In the throws Hannah Bridge covered all events winning the shot, discus and B-string javelin and added a 3rd place in her first ever hammer experience! Amira Mohammed-Hassan, Nikol and Maja Crofts, Shawanna Williams, Katie Marsh and Ogheneviyenze Efadue all added good points along the way.
Under 20 Men: Dejaune Lingard had his first outing of the summer season and duly blew the opposition away with a 10.66s 100m and 21.23s 200m with the latter getting close to Mick Bond’s 46 year old club record of 21.1s. (Video of Dejaune's 200m uploaded below). Shaquille Fernandez-Folkes recorded a PB in the 400 with a 51.16s and could challenge the 50 second mark by the end of the season. In the distance events it was great to see us covering seven out of the eight possible spots thanks to the Andy Knight/Dom Fiore coaching group. Carlos Rojo-Thigo was unlucky to hit the last barrier in the 400 hurdles and the resulting sprained ankle left him unable to challenge UK Number 2 Noah Hanson from Newham over the high hurdles. Orin Vitalis was a good fill in over jumps, throws and hurdles and obviously has potential as a decathlete in time. Orin paired up with Jason Adeogun for a double win the long jump.
Under 17 Women: The sprints and hurdles events in this Division are red hot but our women were up to the challenge. Nuriah Orhurhu and Zafirah Alebiosu won both 100’s in 12.55s and 12.57s respectively and then combined with Faith Assah and Ciara McGinty to smash the club record in the 4x100 recording a time of 48.17s versus the previous best of 48.76s. (Video of the ladies race uploaded below). Faith had also won the 300m earlier in 41.42s and then teamed up again for the 4 x 300 for another win. Over the hurdles we won both 300 hurdles events care of Keziah Olaleye and Lily Gayle and then Keziah won the B-string sprint hurdles (12.55s) whilst Lily was third in the A-string in a PB of 11.86s. The standard at this match is demonstrated by the fact that Lily’s time puts her in the UK top 10 but could only give her third in the race. Amelia Lawrence looked really strong in both the 800 and 1500 and gained valuable points in both. In the field new member Dami Agunrege excelled in the hammer with a PB of 37.48m for maximum points.
Under 17 Men: Michael Somade-Makinde only joined just a month ago but is already benefiting from the good competition we organise and a 100/200 double of 11.22s and 22.71s should put him in a good place for selection by London to go to the English Schools championships. Another virtually booking his place on the London team was Sam Scrase-Field who smashed his 1500m PB by over ten seconds with a time of 4:05.66. Josh Baker another taking a break from GCSE preparations, came away with a 100 hurdles win and PB of 14.83s along with a 49m javelin throw, whilst Josiah Payne won both B-string hurdles races. Tomisin Awolowo showed his talents with a 58.85s 400m hurdles debut, added a 1.65m high jump and significant legs in both the relays.
Enfield Race Walking League, Queen Elizabeth Playing Fields (Sat. 29th Apr.)
New club member race walker Mark Culshaw (M55) in his first race for the club, finished 7th overall and 4th senior man at the Enfield Race Walking League with a time of 1:05:07.
Worthing Run-Fest Half-Marathon (Sun. 30th Apr.)
Angela and Paul Ford ran in the Worthing Half-Marathon which is held on and out and back course along the seafront between Worthing and Goring-by-Sea, recording times of 2:02:15 and 2:02:17 respectively.
Ted Pepper 10km, Bromley (Mon. 1st May)
The Ted Pepper 'Seven' was first organised in 1979 as a memorial race to Blackheath runner Ted Pepper, who sadly lost his life whilst taking part in the Three Peaks Race. It continued as a seven mile race for a number of years, with the Club Committee turning down a request to make it 10k . In 1991 the course was re-measured and adjusted to make it 10k and it has continued as a popular 10k race ever since.
Three club members took part this year all achieving age group positions. David Worden finished in 4th position overall and 3rd senior man in 40:16. Christian Poulton was 20th and 2nd M55 with a time of 44:46 and Graham Maynard was 47th, 3rd M60 in 48:39.
Whitstable 10km (Mon. 1st May)
The Whitstable 10k course is mainly flat and fast, starting from Tankerton slopes, Whitstable and going out eastwards via Swalecliffe to Hampton Pier at the Western End of Herne Bay. Runners then turn back along the promenade and finish near to the Waterfront Club.
Mark Penny (M40) recorded a time of 40:14 for 34th place. Second claim member Luc Legon, better known for race walking, finished in 24th place in a time of 39:00.