Photo above – James West in the British Championships 1500 metres final.
West fourth at British Championships
The British Athletics Championships took place at Sports City, Manchester on Friday and Saturday, with full coverage on BBC television. Tonbridge Athletic Club had five athletes who had qualified and accepted invitations to the championships this year and all were either in the men’s 800 metres or 1500 metres events.
James West has been in such good form that he was amongst the favourites to challenge for the 1500 metres title and won his heat on Friday evening in 3.46.30 to qualify for Saturday’s final. However, the final was a slow tactical affair, with opening 400m laps of 68 and 66, before the pace picked up. It came down to a sprint over the final 200 metres and West disappointingly missed out on a medal to finish fourth in 3.51.93, just 0.54 seconds behind the winner, George Mills of Brighton. Neil Gourley, who made the World Championships final last year, was second and Josh Lay from Rugby, third. The last 800 metres of the race was run in 1.53. West aims to have one or two more races in September, before the end of the shortened track season. Kieran Reilly and Miles Weatherseed were eliminated at the heat stage of the 1500 metres, whilst Sean Molloy and Ben Murphy likewise over 800 metres.
Track relays were held at a meeting for the first time this season, with Tonbridge having teams in the Club Connect event at Lee Valley, on Saturday. The under 20 men’s team of George Smith, Zac Beasty, Alex Milligan and Anton Bachorski were fourth fastest, against some top London squads and recorded 43.34. This was very close to the club record of 43.3, although is the fastest electronically timed run. The under 13 boys and girls also took part, recording times of 55.93 and 57.18, respectively. At the same venue, on Sunday, Ewan Wood ran a personal best over 400 metres of 51.16, in the under 20 men’s age group.
Jamie Goodge ran a personal best of 15.18.83, when he finished second over 5000 metres, at Aberdeeen. There were a few road races taking place over the weekend, with various controls and restrictions in place to cope with the latest Covid 19 safety requirements. Dan Bradley and Nichola Evans won the men’s and women’s categories at the Chatham Maritime 10k on Sunday in 32.16 and 42.06, respectively. Also, on Sunday, Tom Woolley was 17th at the Folkestone Coastal 10k in 36.54 and Harriet Woolley finished fourth in the women’s race in 39.30
Results from British Championships, Friday/Saturday 4th/5th September – https://www.uka.org.uk/results/20200904_Manchester/timetable/index/
Results Club Connect Relays, Saturday 5th September – https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=407724
Results from Lee Valley, Sunday 6th September – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2020/GBR/liccr3/event/
Results from Folkestone Coastal 10k – https://www.nice-work.org.uk/races/folkestone-coastal-10k/2020
Results from Folkestone Coastal 10k –https://resultscui.active.com/events/chathammaritime10k2