Young Harriers come out on top

Athlete of the Month
First of all this week, we being with athlete of the month. for April 2010.

Russell Williams was voted the winner of the Male award while Heather Butcher again won the female award.

Russell regularly makes long round trips from his home in Faversham to support the club and in April made the 140 mile round trip to Sutcliffe Park to win the 1500m in the opening Southern Veterans League match at Sutcliffe Park.

Heather, who continues to improve as a race walker, won the April Athlete of the Month award for her second place performance in the National Young Race Walking Championships at Victoria Park. At the age of 13, she also broke the U13 and U15 race walking 2km record in April in a time of 11:20.51.

Congratulations to you both.

Kent Track and Field Championships
There were several good performances from the clubs athletes in this years Kent Track and Field Championships in Ashford this weekend.

Despite a somewhat disappointing entry for this year’s Championships (39 Athletes as opposed to 54 last year) resulting in a reduceded medal haul, cold and damp conditions didn’t help matters either.

Charlie Perry led the Cambridge Harriers charge in an exciting weekend winning the individual Under 17 boys 400m on the line, similarly dip finishing to take the 100m hurdles title but unfortunately not quite combining the two disciplines precisely enough in the 400 hurdles where he had to settle for silver. Still two golds and silver is not a bad tally for the weekend.

The club’s other double gold medallist was Sophie Parkes who won both the 800 and 1500m in the Under 15 age group both in pb times of 2.23.12 and 4.55.63. In the 1500 Sophie was backed up by Grace DeRome who clawed her way back from a slow start to take bronze in a time of 5.04.04

In the Under 15 boys section, Tobi Adeniyi competed in four events and came away with two silvers in the Javelin (37.26) and Triple Jump (10.95). In the Long Jump he was just pushed out of the medals by team mate Elijah Laidlaw who took 3rd with 4.94. Stephen Ball won his heat of the 800 in a new pb of 2.10.84 but couldn’t quite repeat the feat in the final and had to settle for 5th in 2.12

In the Under 17 boy’s category the club’s other medallist was Joe Berth Jones who took silver in the 100 in a time of 11.51 whilst Israel Kolade was just outside the medals in the Long Jump with a new pb of 5.87m

In the Under 20 Men’s group Omari Markland Montgomery looked very strong after a good winter’s training and took silver in the 400m in a time of 49.93 just outside his pb. Craig Lacy continued the club’s tradition in the Javelin event winning the Under 20 competition and the next day taking silver in the Senior Competition. Meanwhile brother Dean was a class apart in the 5000m winning with ease in a time of 15.25.37. Dean was the club’s only senior men’s runner on the track though in the field Curtis Griffith Parker picked up two silvers in the Shot and Discus despite carrying an ankle injury

In the under 15 girls age group Daryl Neita ran well in the 100m taking 3rd in a time of 12.88 while Lucy Daniel ran well in the 800 and 75m Hurdles as well as throwing the Discus

In the Under 17 age group there were more medals in the Javelin as Deborah Kabahinda took gold with 28.93 and Leanne O’Donovan took silver with 24.46m. Ruth Onyekwe set a pb of 12.61 in the heats of the 100 and then bettered this with 12.59 to take silver in the final. Melissa Owusu-Ansah also set a pb with a time of 26.00 in the 200 for third spot

Caroline Ford was in fine form in the Under 20 age group setting pb’s of 60.20 and 2.20.18 in the 400 and 800 respectfully and picking up an excellent silver medal in the longer event. Gabriella Ade Onojobi picked up a full set of medals with a win in the 100m Hurdles second in the 100m and 3rd in the 400m Hurdles whilst Hatshepsut James just missed out in the 200m taking fourth place in 27.06

In the senior women’s events there a welcome return to racing by Tamara Ashaye who picked up a bronze in the 400 in a time of 58.86 whilst Laura McPherson also took bronze in the 800m despite still suffering back problems following a car crash just seven weeks ago.

National Young Athletes League
A rain soaked Norman park made for a tough days athletics, but despite the weather around 50 of the club's young athletes turned out for the opening fixture in the McCain's Young Athletes League.

Wind and rain made pb's hard to come by, however one athlete that did manage to overcome the awful conditions was Joe Berth-Jones who clocked personal bests in both the 100 (11.4 secs) and 200 metres (23.4).

New results software made a full set of results unavailable at time of going to press. Overall however the team came away as convincing winners over Dartford and Herts Phoenix.

British University Championships
After two rounds of 1500 races, Joe Durrant came a credible 6th in the final running in a time of 3min 52.78, marginally outside his best, in very windy conditions at Bedford on Bank Holiday Monday.

The race itself was won in 3m 50 with no one really wanting to take on the pace, however it picked up with 700m to go, but unfortunately Joe couldnt show the pace he had previously shown in the semi.

Mens Southern League
The first Men's Southern League match took place last Saturday. Final results and hopefully a report will be fourthcoming shortly.