Photos at the British Indoor Championships . Above – Jack Higgins after his 800 metres win and below James West leading the 3000 metres
Tonbridge Athletic Club had two victories to celebrate at the British Indoors Championships, at the weekend, which took place at the Utilita Arena, Birmingham. James West was in fine form as he took control of the men’s 3000 metres, to retain his title, whilst Jack Higgins produced one of the shocks of the championships to win the 800 metres.
Higgins almost retired from the sport a year ago, but joined Tonbridge AC last May, to resurrect his career. The 22-year-old has made remarkable progress since and won the South of England 800 metres championship at the start of February, with a time that qualified him for these British Championships.
On Saturday, Higgins finished 2nd in his heat in 1.51.51, with the first two qualifying for the six-man final, where he would be up against the favourite Guy Learmonth, who made the final at last year’s European Championships.
As expected, Learmonth set a fast pace from the start, with Higgins the only one to try and stay close. Learmonth held the advantage into the final 50 metres, but Higgins closed and dived for the line. The two were so close that it took officials a while to separate them, as both recorded 1.47.91. In the end Higgins was given the win by just one thousandth of a second.
James West looked sublime in winning the men’s 3000 metres, as nineteen men started the race. A strong pace strung the field out to single file, with West positioning near the front throughout. The first 1000 metres was covered by the leader in 2.41, with the next in 2.43, but after that it picked up considerably as West ran about 2.26 for that final kilometre, to win in 7.51.09. This added to his win at the same event last year, plus his 5000 metres win at the outdoor British Championships, in the Summer.
Tonbridge had a few others at the championships, including Ben Murphy who made it to the final of the 1500 metres, where he finished 8th. Kieran Eland set a new Tonbridge indoor 400 metres record of 48.51 in his heat, but just missed qualifying for the semi-finals by 0.01 seconds. Lucy Talon, had her first experience of a senior British Championships, contesting the 60 metres and 200 metres. Over the shorter distance she qualified through the heat for the semi-final, where she set a new personal best and club record of 7.58 seconds.
Tonbridge runners also had a successful morning at the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon on Sunday, as Michael Ellis won the men’s race and Helen Gaunt, the women’s event. Ellis ran 70.16 to finish 11 seconds clear of teammate Steve Strange, who was second. Gaunt ran 80.09 and was more than four minutes clear of her nearest competitor, whilst Nichola Evans also made a podium position in 3rd.
Also on Sunday, at Muscat, Oman, Phoebe Barker and Charlotte Alexander were in the Great Britain team for the World Students Cross Country Championships. Barker placed 9th and Alexander 12th in the women’s race, held over 10 kilometres, in very hot conditions.