Photo – Jack Higgins at the World Indoor Championships
Jack Higgins, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, made his third appearance in the last year for a Great Britain team, on Friday evening. He was competing in the heats of the 1500 metres, at the World Indoor Championships, in Torun, Poland and although he was unable to make the final, he gained more valuable international experience.
Higgins had previously competed in the European Indoor Championships a year ago and for the GB team in the short course relay at the European Cross Country Championships, in December. However, this was his first appearance on the World stage.
Higgins finished 7th, of the ten competitors, in his heat in 3.44.75, exactly a second away from a top three qualifying place, as a total of only nine men from three heats would contest the final. Hopefully, the experience gained from making the team and competing at the championships, will benefit the 24-year-old going forward in his career.
A second international vest was gained at the weekend, when Guy Bowers was part of the England Schools relay team, at the Home Countries Cross Country International, held at Bangor, Wales.
Tonbridge AC had plenty of competitors at the Kent Indoor Athletics Championships, held at Lee Valley over the weekend. Between them they won eight gold medals. Asha Root (400m), Anna Palmer (800m) and Selina Hawker (Pole Vault) all won senior women’s events, whilst Joe Burton took the men’s 400m title. In the under 20s, Elicia Lacey won the 60m hurdles and Lewis Jessup the 800 metres, whilst Ethan Brooks took the under 17 men’s 800 metres title. Sebastian Brooks, competing as a paralympic T20 category athlete, won his Long Jump competition.
On Sunday, Alex Howard placed 3rd in the Surrey Half Marathon in 65.22, which was a personal best and number five on the Tonbridge all time rankings, whilst Helen Winsor placed 6th in the women’s race in 79.35.
Rae Le Fay commenced a scholarship at the University of San Francisco in September and seems to be benefiting from the experience. On Saturday, she won the women’s 1500 metres at the Cal Invitational at Berkley, California, in 4.25.15. This was a personal best by more than six seconds and the second fastest time by a Tonbridge female athlete ever. It was also a club under 20 women’s record.