Our fourth match was on what was then the hottest day of the year at Dartford. Fortunately the temperature was a little cooler by the time we competed and conditions were obviously good as there were 4 PBs!
2000m walk Rose from 13:24.09 to 12:37:7.
Javelin Emily Gelder from 19.43 to 19.88.
200m Rose from 41.5 to 39.3.
Shot Jenny Agyepong from 7.47 to 7.99.
Again we had to make some last minute changes, but we are used to that and everyone is always willing to do whatever they can to get those points. Cara Oliver ran very well despite feeling unwell, originally was just going to cover the 200m but true to having a strong team spirit she stayed the course and also did both the 1500m and the shot putt.
The first 2 track events were the same as at the Ashford meeting – 200m and 1500m. All the sprints were run by people who would probably consider themselves middle distance runners. In the W35 200m Emily was 3rd in the A string race and Cara 4th in the B. Our athlete in the W50 race was Rose Baker, who came 4th. Ros Tabor came 2nd in the W60. In the W35 1500m Cara was running as the B string runner, but despite feeling unwell ended up 2nd in the A string race, beating Emily who won the B string. Ros was 2nd in the W50 race. The final track race was the 2k walk. Rose is definitely picking up the technique – she came 2nd W35. Maria MacDonald was 4th in the W50s.
The field events this time were javelin, shot putt and pole vault. Chris Bond did javelin and pole vault at the same time, managing to remember which stick she chucked and which she held onto! She was 2nd in the W50 pole vault and 3rd in the W50 javelin. In the shot putt Cara was 5th in the W35 competition and Jenny, supported by her daughter Chloe, was 2nd in the W50s. In the javelin Emily was 2nd in the W35 competition.
Chris described the night correctly as ‘lovely’. We were 3rd in the match, and remain in 4th position overall, although we have more individual points than the team above us (Blackheath and Bromley).
The next match in on Friday 7 July at Erith.
Full results are on the SCVAC website.