Photo – Anton Bachorski
For the second time this season, Anton Bachorski lowered the Tonbridge Athletic Club 100 metres record, when he ran 10.46 seconds on Saturday. He was competing in the Polish under 23 Championships, at Wloclawek and won his qualifying heat in 10.49. In the final he finished third, just 0.06 seconds behind the winner, in a race with a wind reading of -0.1 metres per second, which gave no advantage.
Bachorski is currently living and training in Poland, having completed his school days in England. He will be hoping to go even quicker over 100 metres this season, having run 10.47, with a positive wind reading, in May and now quicker, with no wind advantage.
Secker and Pawson win English Schools titles
Matilda Secker and Elsa Pawson, both won gold medals, at the English Schools Championships, representing Kent. Secker won the under 17 age group High Jump with 1.74 metres, clearing the same height as two other competitors, but winning since she had fewer height failures. The clearance was a personal best by one centimetre and equalled the Tonbridge age group club record, set in 1990, by Jackie Powell.
Pawson was an emphatic winner of the under 15 girls’ Pole Vault, clearing 2.85 metres, which was 15 centimetres ahead of five other athletes. Pawson is equal top of the current UK age rankings, alongside Sophia McCart, of Sutton, who finished second in this competition. Both have personal bests of 3.00 metres.
Amongst the other representatives from Tonbridge AC, there were two 4th places achieved by Ed Tyler (under 15 Boys Hammer Throw, 46.01m) and Joseph Hunt (under 17 Men’s steeplechase, 4.33.56).
Elsewhere, during the week, there were many other good performances from Tonbridge athletes. James West finished a close second in the British Milers Club International Grand Prix 1500 metres, at Watford, in 3.41.08. Harriet Woolley won the Kent 10,000 metres Championship, at Dartford in 38.06 and Michael Ellis finished 4thin the Bewl 15 miles multi terrain race, where Alice Ralph was first female in the 5 miles event.
Above – Matilda Secker (41) and Elsa Pawson at English Schools Championships