Photo above – One of the race starts on Saturday
Tonbridge Athletic Club returns with some competitive action
Tonbridge Athletic Club hosted the second of their cross country events this Winter for members and a few guests on Saturday, after a month of severe lockdown restrictions. For the past few weeks there had been no organised group training or competitions, but with the guidelines now eased for the sport, it was possible to stage some informal races.
There were races over 500 metres, 3000 metres and 5000 metres, with mile events for under 11s. Judd School helped host the event at their Vizards Sports Fields, at Lower Hayesden. Conditions under foot were quite muddy in places, although the relatively flat courses still produced some good times.
The 3000 metres consisted of three races with the fastest male times recorded by James Kingston (9.21), Ben Murphy (9.34) and Huxley Crush (10.04). Penny Horne (12.26) just held off Lara Jee, in the second race, as they were the fastest females with the same time. Oliver Wills, of Judd School, won the first prize for the runner outperforming their predicted performance.
James Kingston was back in action over 5000 metres, winning the first race in 15.55, with Jamie Bryant (16.04) 2ndand Fraser Gordon (17.02) 3rd. Sophie Preston, of Judd School, with 19.29 was the fastest female, from Verity Hopkins (19.38). Leonora Lynn was the 3rd fastest with a time of 22.33 and also picked up the first prize for outperforming her predicted performance.
The 500 metres race was organised as a handicap, with Will Horner holding on to win, from Tom Daly and Ben Murphy. Their actual times were 90.8, 84.3 and 72.0 respectively.
At the end of the morning’s action, Sena Wright ran 6.53 to win the under 11 girls’ 1 mile race and Matthew Mardon 6.05 to do likewise in the boys’ event.
Olley posts fast 5000 metres time in USA
Chris Olley, who currently lives and works in San Francisco, had his first race in the USA since February and had an excellent performance over 5000 metres at San Juan Capistrano, near Los Angeles, on Friday night. The meeting had attracted some world class athletes despite the unusual time of the year for outdoor track racing.
Olley finished 10th in the B race in 13.42.14, in a race won by Olympic 1500 metres champion Matt Centrowitz in 13.32.92. The time now places Olley 6th on the UK rankings for 2020 and was less than two seconds outside his lifetime best.
Nearer to home a 10k road race took place at Marden, on Sunday, with runners starting at different times and running in time trial format. Tonbridge AC’s Liz Weeks won the women’s event, recording 38.58, with Jacqui O’Reilly 3rd in 41.36.