Photo – Tom Daly
The Tonbridge Athletic Club under 18 and 20 age group squad opened their season in the UK Youth Development League Division One South, on Sunday. They finished third of the six clubs, behind Cambridge Harriers, plus Medway and Maidstone AC. Tonbridge had some successes, but were unable to fill competitors across enough of the 76 events to compete for the win. Considering the time of the year, conditions at the Tonbridge School track were almost ideal, being warm and sunny.
The strongest performances for Tonbridge came from the under 20 men, where a highlight was Tom Daly breaking the club’s age group 400 metres record with 48.56. Lewis Jessup made his debut, at the distance, to win the B-string race in 50.72. Daly also won the Javelin with a throw of 41.36m.
Toby Bawtree and Sam Smialowski scored maximum points in the 1500 metres, with A and B string wins. In the field, Sam Newton won the Shot Put with 12.45m and Discus with 36.33m, whilst Harry Owen won the Long Jump and Triple Jump.
The under 20 women had two A-string victories with Felicity Edwards winning the Discus and Florrie McIver-Hall the 1500m, the latter in only her second ever track race.
The men’s Javelin was the Tonbridge highlight in the under 18 age group, with William Law (54.70m) and Paul Sojka (53.47m) finishing well clear of the other competitors. There was also a win for the 4×400 metres relay team of Lucas Bowen, Harry Wrigley, Arthur Munt and Sebby Reynolds.
Competing in the Bryan Clay Invitational Meeting, at Azusa, California, over the weekend, Rae Le Fay set two Tonbridge AC under 20 women’s records. On Thursday evening she ran 10.28.34 in the 3000 metres steeplechase and then returned on Saturday to run 4.23.55 for 1500 metres. The latter record was previously held by Kelly Holmes and set in 1987.