Photo – Steve Strange winning at the Kent Cross Country League
On Saturday, Tonbridge Athletic Club’s James West, improved the club 5000 metres record which he had set before Christmas, when he ran 13.19.98. He was competing at Boston, USA and his time not only improved the record by three seconds but moved him to third place on the UK rankings and was a fraction inside the qualifying time, for this Summer’s European Championships.
The time is still almost fifteen seconds away from the Olympic qualifying standard, but West will hope that the performance is a sign that there is still more to come, since he had suffered a bout of illness in January. At the same meeting, Chris Olley, who lives in the USA, but is still a Tonbridge club member, ran 4.01.80 for the mile. Also, in the USA Charlie Crick improved his best indoor 800 metres time to 1.49.26, to maintain a top ten position in the UK rankings.
Nearer to home, the final Kent Cross Country League meeting of the season, took place at Norman Park, Bromley, where Tonbridge won the men’s team competitions for both four and twelve to score runners. The women finished second to Blackheath in their completions.
There was some controversy during the men’s race, as Steve Strange battled for the individual victory, alongside an Ashford runner. Strange became frustrated as his rival for the lead cut a few corners on the course, avoiding some of the muddiest sections. The race referee awarded Strange the win, following consideration of the circumstances. Corey De’Ath placed third, whilst Calum Laing had his best cross-country performance to date, in 4th, which moved him to second place overall in the individual league positions. Maria Heslop led the women’s team home in 8th and was backed up by Elizabeth Owen in 20th and Charlotte Warren 30th.
The England Indoor Age Group Championships took place at Sheffield over the weekend, where the under 15, 17 and 20 athletes were competing. Amongst the Tonbridge highlights were Ella Thomas finishing 2nd in the under 17 women’s High Jump with 1.67 metres and Amelie Rabbidge improving the club 60m hurdles record to 8.92, in the under 20 event.
At the England Veterans Indoor Championships, at Lee Valley Steve Tester won both the over 40 men’s 60 metres and 400 metres, with club age records of 7.49 and 52.94. Nina Ridge won the over 45 women’s Shot Put with a club record of 8.84m and Sarah Westrap set club over 45 women’s records when winning the 60m and 60m hurdles in 9.06 and 11.47.
This coming weekend the UK Indoor Championships will take place at Birmingham, with a number of Tonbridge athletes, having qualified and being due to compete.