Photo – Lewis Church
The Decathlon is often regarded as the biggest challenge to decide the best all-round athlete, since it consists of ten events from the track, throws and jumps, requiring a combination of speed, technique, strength and endurance. It is such a challenge that the standard championship Decathlon is completed across two full days.
On Saturday, Lewis Church from Tonbridge Athletic Club, competed in the Speed Decathlon at Basingstoke, alongside athletes from across the country. They had to not only complete the traditional ten events, but make sure that their final discipline, being the 1500 metres, started within sixty minutes of their first event, the 100 metres.
Officials set all the events up, so that groups of three or four worked their way through the disciplines. Although a relatively rare type of competition, there are all-time World and GB rankings, the latter being headed by Alex Kruger, who scored 7008 points in 1995.
Church started his events at soon after 4pm, with 100 metres run in 11.53. He then recorded a Long Jump of 6.86 metres, a Shot Put of 13.81m, a High Jump clearance of 2.00m and a 55.25 for 400 metres. Unlike a normal Decathlon, there was no rest after five events and it was on to the 110m hurdles in 15.62, a Discus throw of 42.84m, a Pole Vault of 4.60m, a Javelin throw of 55.60m and a 1500m in 4.54.30. The Javelin mark was the furthest he had thrown all year, whilst just about all the other events, showed remarkable consistency, just below his best.
At the end of the hour Church had totalled 7189 points to break the British record and rank 26th on the World all-time list.
This young man has been the best ambassador for the sport bar none
He actively trains yougesters to the disciplines and still trains and today is currently in first place in the national heptathlon currently being run this weekend he is the appitimy of all things British and never give up spirit the country once had