Photo above – Josh Prendergast who is now ranked highly on the UK under 15 boys lists for 2020 at 800m, 1500m and 3000m.
West sets 1500 metres record
James West of Tonbridge Athletic Club ran one of the fastest 1500 metres times in the World this year, when he finished second in Zagreb, Croatia, last Tuesday evening. West was competing in the Continental Tour meeting and finished second to Stewie McSweyn, of Australia, in a time of 3.34.56, but ahead of some other World class athletes, including George Mills of Great Britain, who recently beat West to win the British Championships.
The time ranks him 3rd on the UK rankings for 2020, behind Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr, whilst being 13th ranked in the World. Unfortunately, the result won’t count as an Olympic qualifying time, as the ‘window’ to set a mark was closed, when the Games were postponed. The standard had originally been set at 3.35.
West has one more race this season, as he has been invited to compete in the World Athletics Diamond League event, in Doha, this coming weekend.
Also, on Tuesday there were two other excellent 1500 metres performances from Tonbridge athletes, who were competing at the Millennium Park Track, Battersea. Kieran Reilly finished 6th in the men’s A-race, recording a personal best of 3.45.18, lowering his time from seven years ago and moving into the UK’s top thirty for the year. Steve Strange won his race with a pb of 3.54.60, improving by more than three seconds.
There were a few performances at the weekend, commencing with under 15 Lucy Tallon racing 100 and 200 metres, at Bromley, on Friday evening and recording times of 12.68 and 26.68, respectively. Also, on Friday, at Nottingham, Kiri Marsh won a mile race in 5.04.6. Steph Puxty ran the New Forest multi-terrain marathon on Saturday, making her debut at the distance, at just 18 years old and recording 4.46.42.
Josh Prendergast has been showing terrific late season form over a number of distances in recent weeks and on Sunday finished 2nd over 3000 metres at the Yeovil open meeting. He improved his best time, set last year, by 37 seconds with 9.05.99. This places him 3rd on the 2020 under 15 boys’ UK rankings.
James West 1500 metres race video, from Zagreb here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYXEr5gr4os