Photo – Lewis Church
Back in 2022, Lewis Church, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, was extremely unlucky not to be selected for the England team, in the Decathlon, at the Commonwealth Games, despite being consistently near the top of the rankings. He had to watch those Games, as teammate and training partner Harry Kendall competed successfully and finished 6th. Then following a terrific 2025, Church has had to deal with a variety of injuries over the last few months. However, he strung together enough good performances to gain the England selection this time around.
The Decathlon took place in Glasgow across Thursday and Friday and developed into a close battle between several athletes. Church started off with 100 metres in 11.14, which put him in 10th place. Then it was almost continuous progress across the two days. Despite equalling his Long Jump personal best with 7.10 metres he remained 10th. His Shot Put of 14.56 metres was the third best of all and moved him into 7th, followed by a 1.97 metres High Jump, moving him up another place. At the end of the first day he was disappointed with a 400 metres in 51.74, which left him 7th overall.
Church’s second day is generally his strongest and so it proved on this occasion. He ran the third fastest 110 metres hurdles in 14.43, threw the second-best Discus with 43.77m and finished second in the Pole Vault with 4.70m. He had closed dramatically on the athletes ahead, but was still in 7th, but then a Javelin Throw of 56.21m proved to be the second-best distance in the event, putting him 5th overall. In the tenth event, the 1500 metres he finished 2nd in 4.30.58 to consolidate that 5th place, with a final score of 7846 points. The four in front scored between 8096 and 7893 points, with Lindon Victor, from Grenada retaining his title, from four years earlier.
Several of the club’s athletes travelled to Oordegem in Belgium for a World Athletics Continental Tour Meeting, on Saturday. Ted Higgins won a 1500 metres, with a personal best of 3.36.60, which moved him to 14th fastest in the UK this year. Tom Daly ran a personal best 47.97 for 400 metres, whilst Jake Brislane ran a brave 5000 metres and was also rewarded with a pb of 14.12.69.
On Saturday, Tonbridge AC hosted the final fixture of the UK Youth Development League season for the under 14 and 16 squad. The team finished 4th of the six clubs on the day, but placed 3rd in the final Premier Division standings to maintain their topflight status.
Under 16 age group A-string wins came from Osarode Oviawe (Boys Shot Put 13.95m and Hammer 58.05m), Joel Graffin (Boys 800m 2.04.10), Tiffany Oyewale (Girls 80m hurdles 11.84 and Shot Put 10.81m) and Seren Field (Girls Javelin 36.63m). The only under 14 age group victory came in the boys 4x100m relay from Teddy Adkin, Freddie Keem, Pierre Esprit-Tabiowo and Fife Alex Alade. They ran 49.13, but went considerably quicker on Sunday when they recorded 48.44, when representing Kent in an inter-counties match.
The East Peckham 10k road race took place on Sunday morning where Lizzie Owen won the women’s race with a personal best of 37.58. Nichola Evans placed 3rd in 39.18. Dan Bradley was 2nd in the men’s race in 34.20 and David Horsman 3rd in 35.08.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, Lucy Reid won the women’s race at the Run Through 5k road race, at Battersea Park in 17.27.
James West has been selected to run the 5000 metres at the upcoming European Championships, in Birmingham, whilst Jack Higgins has been named as first reserve for the 800 metres.