Photo above – Anton Bachorski and Dan Gill who clocked 100 metres times of 10.62 and 10.73 at the weekend.
Athletics returns with sense of normality
Track and field athletics competition returned at various venues over the past week, although with the imposition of various Covid-19 measures in place. Social distancing, health declarations, restricted numbers and temperature checks were the order of the day, although a few more competitors have now been allowed in each event. Although the season has been severely restricted, there will be more competitions in September, including the British Championships going ahead this coming weekend, at Manchester.
Tonbridge Athletic Club hosted their first home event of the Summer, on Bank Holiday Monday, held exclusively for club members, to keep control of the overall numbers. In the under 17 women’s Shot Putt, Caitlin Ebbage recorded 11.26m, to set a personal best by nine centimetres and beat the previous club age record.
The Tonbridge sprint groups enjoyed some terrific performances ranging from Anton Bachorski running 10.96 for 100 metres, in the under 20 age group, to Alan Marriott recording 23.07, at 83 years old. Bachorski had run a new club under 20 men’s record of 10.75, at Chelmsford the previous day, whilst also a setting an even faster, wind-assisted, 10.62 in the later, final round. Not far away from these times was Dan Gill, who finished second to Bachorski on Monday in 11.11, but on Saturday recorded 10.73, with a wind reading of 2.2 metres per second, a fraction over the legal limit, for sprint records. Joshua Shaghagi is also closing in on a sub eleven seconds time, as he posted times of 11.17 and 11.18, at Chelmsford, although both had a following wind, beyond the legal limit.
Over 200 metres, at Tonbridge, Jack Lennard was the fastest sprinter with 23.07, with under 15s Lucy Tallon with 26.62 and Oliver Brooke with 24.83 standing out. In the field, decathlete Lewis Church threw the Shot 13.79m, which was just 11 centimetres away from his pb. Felix McCardle-Hodge moved to 7th on the UK under 15 rankings in the Javelin, with 47.20m, whilst Samantha Stubbs’ 30.26m was the longest female throw. David Fullbrook recorded 53.84 metres, with the under 20 men’s Javelin, getting very close to the club age record. In the Long Jump, under 17s Edward Waters, with 5.41m and Georgia Baker with 4.78m recorded the furthest marks.
At Tonbridge, Elicia Lacey moved to third on the UK under 13 girls’ rankings over 70 metre hurdles with 11.89, whilst at Chelmsford, Kirsty-Anne Ebbage recorded a big pb in the Discus of 42.03 metres, which was just 17 centimetres away from a Tonbridge under 20 women’s record. Also standing out at Chelmsford, with a big lifetime best, was under 17, Emily Bowart who clocked 58.88 over 400 metres.
The club’s distance runners were in action at three locations, over the past week, commencing with an excellent one-two finish in the fastest race of the night, at Wimbledon, over 3000 metres, on Wednesday. Kieran Reilly won in 8.17.3, with Steve Strange running a huge personal best of 8.18.0 just behind.
At Tonbridge, on Monday, Ben Murphy won the fastest 800 metres in 1.51.92, from Miles Weatherseed who recorded a pb of 1.52.80 in second. James West had finished second in an 800 metres on Saturday, at Lee Valley in 1.49.29, in cold, wet and windy conditions and together with Reilly, Murphy Weatherseed and Sean Molloy, is due to compete in the British Championships. Of the female 800 metres runners Annabelle Hales and Lily Stewart, who are both under 17s, recorded personal bests of 2.21.23 and 2.21.57, respectively.
The standout 1500 metres performance, on Monday, was most probably the 4.10.96 clocking by Josh Prendergast, which moved him to second on the UK under 15 rankings. Sean Molloy won the fastest race in 3.57.10, from Jamie Goodge’s pb of 4.00.39. The latter’s sister Katie Goodge also ran a pb of 4.39.14. In the final track event, on Monday, Kieran Eland won the 400 metres in 49.73, a fraction away from his pb.
Results from Canterbury, Saturday 29th August – https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=407721
Results from Chelmsford, Saturday and Sunday 29th/30th August – https://thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=407333
Results from Tonbridge, Monday 31st August – https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2020/GBR/tacaug/event/