Photo – Senior Women’s 4x200m team
James West, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, had a successful end to his Summer season, racing three times in three different countries. The week started with a 1500 metres in Switzerland, on Monday, where he finished third in 3.35.44, which was his fastest time of the season. This moved him to 7th on the UK rankings for the year.
West then travelled to Italy, for a World Athletics Continental Tour Meeting, at Rovereto, on Wednesday, where he finished 4th in 7.39.87, to set a new personal best. The time ranks him 3rd on the UK list for the year, but also moved him from 26th to 14th on the all-time list, ahead of some illustrious names, such as Steve Ovett. After these two races, it was a tough task to then fly to New York, for the New Balance Fifth Avenue Road Mile, where he finished 16th, amongst a world class field in 3.58. The race was won by the recently crowned World 1500m champion, Josh Kerr.
There was a weekend of road racing taking place In Newcastle, culminating in the Great North Run Half Marathon, on Sunday. On Friday evening, Ben Cole finished 8th in the UK 5k road racing championship, in 14.28. Then in the half marathon, on Sunday, recent Tonbridge AC recruit, Cole Gibbens ran 69.32.
Tonbridge AC fielded 22 teams in the Kent County Track Relay Championships, on Sunday, at Ashford, with a few winning medals. The Senior Women’s team of Alexia Scotiniadis, Evie Dixon, Isabelle Bridgeman and Lucy Talon won the 4×200 metres and set a new TAC record of 1.44.9.
The under 13 Boys’ 4x100m team of Sam Foster, Jacob McGeachy, Harry Osborn and Sam Foster won the gold medals. The same squad also won the 4x200m relay, with the B- team of Ethan Sampson-Grey, Alexander Sharp, Kobe Ouegnimaoua and Rupert Lott gaining a superb bronze medal.
The under 13 girls’ squad of Ayanfeoluwa Afolabi, Tiffany Oyewale, Jennifer Kyne and Georgia Stafford-Brown won silver medals in the 4x100m relay. Afolabi and Oyewale joined Charlotte Currie and Tayla Galliard to win bronze medals in the 4x200m relay.
The under 13 girls’ 3×800 metres Sienna Ellis, Purdey Hutchings and Jessica Evans won. Similarly, the under 15 girls’ 3x800m team of Neve Raymond, Millie Watts and Aoife Foley tasted success. Over the same distance, the under 15 boys’ A-team of Charlie Warren, Peter Fitzmaurice and Oscar Graffin finished 2nd.
