Photo – Harry Kendall at the Commonwealth Games (photo courtesy of James Rhodes)
Harry Kendall, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, had the best experience of his sporting career, when he competed in the Commonwealth Games Decathlon, on Thursday and Friday. With extensive coverage of all ten events on BBC television and the support from the 30,000 spectators in the stadium, Kendall made the most of the occasion to finish sixth with 7487 points.
Kendall’s total score was his second-best ever, which was a remarkable effort, having suffered a serious ankle injury, after his last Decathlon at the end of May. Since then, he had been on an intensive rehabilitation and training programme, which paid off, enabling him to produce such a good result. His performances, across the ten events, were remarkably strong in the circumstances. On day one he ran 100m in 11.25, Long Jumped 7.10m, just one centimetre short of his personal best, threw the Shot 13.62m, cleared 1.91m in the High Jump and ran 400 metres in 49.20.
On the second day he opened up with 15.72 for the 110 metres hurdles and was close to his best in the Discus with 42.09m. He then finished really strongly, with a pb in the Pole Vault of 4.40 metres, helped by the cheers of thousands in the crowd who had stayed behind at the end of the morning session to support the Decathletes. Then in the evening Kendall thew a pb in the Javelin of 59.90 metres before finishing second in the 1500m in 4.50.22. On Sunday, Tom Bosworth finished 7th in the 10,000 metres race walk in 40.58.64 and he is due to compete for the GB team in the European Championships next week over 20km on the road.
Last Tuesday, Tonbridge AC hosted the final evening open meeting of the Summer, which attracted nearly 200 competitors. There were some excellent performances produced across the range of age groups and events. Ethan Tasker was the fastest over 100m with 11.23, whilst Jack Lennard quickest over 200m in 22.51. Rosemary Dale (u17) was the fastest female, from Tonbridge, over the 200m with 27.89 and Mark McAllister just missed his own club over 50 age group record over the distance with 25.39. McAllister did set a club age group record in the Javelin with 36.81 metres, where David Fullbrook was the top thrower on the night with 47.97m. Diane Wright (photo below) broke her own Tonbridge AC over 50 women’s age group records in both the 100m and 200m with 14.22 and 30.36.
Alexia Scotiandis (u17) ran the fastest female 300 metres in 40.99 and over 400m Asha Root was quickest in 56.14, once again very close in her quest to run under 56 seconds. Noah Friend was fastest male, over 400m in 50.88. The 1500 metres races produced a club over 60 men’s record by Graeme Saker of 5.08.58, whilst Yasmin Jameson (u15) was fastest Tonbridge female in 5.13.27. At the front of the fastest seeded race, Jordan Chambers (3.50.74) and James Kingston (3.51.98) produced excellent personal best times.
On Saturday, Tonbridge hosted the Kent Young Athletes League match and once again won, ahead of Blackheath, in the eight-club Division One competition. There were A-string wins from a number of Tonbridge athletes, including under 15s Max Clark (High Jump 1.70m), Elsa Pawson (Pole Vault 2.50m) and Carmen Wright (2000m walk 13.34.3). In the under 13 age group, wins came from Ayanfeoluwa Afolabi (Girls’ Shot Put 6.94m and Hammer 16.82m) plus, in the Boys’ events, from Harry Wrigley (75m hurdles 12.5), Louis Ib (High Jump 1.45m), Jago Veale (Javelin 29.91m) and the 4x100m relay squad in 55.1.
On Sunday, the under 17 and 20 age group squad finished 4th of six teams in the UK Youth Development League match at Crawley. Oliver Brooke had a good day, stepping up an age group and winning the under 20 men’s 200m in 22.61 and Long Jump with 6.30m, both being personal bests. Zac Beasty won the High Jump (1.85m) and Lucinda White the Pole Vault (3.00m) and Javelin (36.67m). In the under 17s, there were wins from Dante McNichol (100m hurdles 14.75), Charlie Ellison (1500m steeplechase 4.50.21 pb), Joe Stone (Triple Jump 12.74m) and Isabella Bridgeman (300m hurdles 55.04).
This Saturday, Tonbridge AC hosts a Southern Athletics League match at Tonbridge School.
at the Tonbridge Evening Open Meeting