Photo – William Law with Javelin coach Dominik Sadowski
William Law, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, won the England National Under 18 Javelin Championship on Sunday, at Bedford. Law threw 63.33 metres to win by more than three metres from Henry Jones, of Reading. This reversed the result from the recent South of England Championships, where Jones had defeated Law. It was also a terrific turnaround in form for Law from a disappointing 9th place finish at the English Schools Championships, earlier in the month.
The only other athlete from Tonbridge AC competing at the championships was Tiffany Oyewale, who finished an excellent 4th in the under 16 girls 80 metres hurdles. Oyewale progressed through the heats, with an 11.64 time and then through her semi-final with 11.65, before running 11.57 in the final.
Earlier in the week Jack Higgins, just three days after winning an 800 metres at the London Diamond League meeting, travelled to Slovakia for a World Athletics Silver Tour Meeting. Higgins finished 4th in 1.45.06, his second fastest time ever, but once again just outside the European Championships qualifying standard.
At Wimbledon, on Wednesday, Jordan Chambers was the fastest of the Tonbridge athletes competing in the night of mile races, when he placed 7th in the A-race with a personal best of 4.05.62. On the same evening, at Watford, Alex Beeston dipped under 4 minutes for 1500 metres for the first time, when winning in 3.59.44. Mark Bridger took more than thirty seconds from his best when he ran 8.40.10 in the 3000 metres.
On Friday evening, Tonbridge hosted the final fixture of the Southern Counties Veterans League Kent Division, where the women’s team won and the men placed second to Dartford. Both teams will now compete in the league final to be held in September.
Tom Richards ran his fastest 800 metres for eight years when he won the over 35 men’s A-race in 2.03.2. He then joined Ben Richardson, James Farmer and Steve Tester in winning the 4×200 metres relay in 1.36.5, which is a club record, for the rarely run event. Ian Crawley won the over 50 men’s Discus with 34.91 metres and Charlotte Nicholls won the same event for the women with 25.44 metres. In the over 50 women’s age group, Diane Wright won the 100 metres in 14.5 and Nina Ridge the Discus with 22.67 metres.
On Sunday, Lizzie Owen was the first female home at the Run Through Victoria Park 10km road race in London, with a personal best time of 38.02. Owen also won the over 45 women’s category.
Above – Tonbridge AC women with the Southern counties Veterans League Kent Division trophy