Photo – TAC women’s team of Lucy Thompson, Phoebe Barker, Charlotte Alexander, Lucy Reid
Tonbridge Athletic Club had teams in seven of the eight events, at the National Road Relay Championships, at Sutton Coldfield, on Saturday. There were no medal winning teams amongst them this year, but still some strong performances against the best clubs in England.
The senior women’s team came closest to a podium position, finishing just 47 seconds behind the winners, Aldershot, over a race of four legs, each of 4.33 kms. Lucy Thompson led the team off with a first leg in 15.27, bringing her home in 28th. Phoebe Barker then moved the team up to 6th, with a 14.08 split. Charlotte Alexander, returning from injury, clocked 15.10, slipping just one place, whilst Lucy Reid anchored the team in 14.09. Barker and Reid ran the 4th and 5th fastest laps, respectively, of the entire race.
The men had a solid race, moving through to finish 9th, despite missing a few key athletes. Their race consisted of six legs of 5.88 kms and Cameron Chambers started them off in 51st position, with 18.52. Steve Strange recorded 18.09 to move up 14 places, whilst Cole Gibbens, making his Tonbridge debut in a championship, ran 18.05, also moving up 14 places to 23rd. James Kingston ran the fastest ever Tonbridge lap on this course with 17.02 and moved the team into 9th place. Corey De’Ath, with 18.16 and Will Beeston with 18.14, maintained that position.
All the young athlete races were held over three legs of 3.88 kms and the highest placed Tonbridge team was the under 15 boys, who managed 7th from 85 starters. The squad included Ben Catchpole (12.47), Peter Fitzmaurice (12.49) and Charlie Warren (13.10). With the B-team 22nd and C-team 39th, Tonbridge will hope to have a good cross-country season, with strength in depth.
Similarly, the under 17 men can look forward to the cross-country team races, as they finished 11th, 27th and 29th. The A-team started with Joseph Hunt running 12.29, but the first Tonbridge runner home was Thomas Beghein for the C-team, who recorded 12.19, having most probably his best-ever race. Jacob Hunt (12.12) and Harrison Fraser (12.19) ran well to give the A-team their 11th place.
The other teams competing were the under 17 women who finished 25th, under 15 girls in 24th and under 13 boys in 23rd.
On Sunday, Ben Cole improved his own Tonbridge men’s over 35 age group, marathon record to 2.26.32, at Chicago. Imogen Amos won the Ashford 10k women’s race in 36.29.
Above – The under 15 girls and under 17 women at Sutton Coldfield