Photo – James West
James West ran one of the fastest ever times by a UK athlete over 3000 metres, on Sunday evening, in Boston, USA. The Tonbridge Athletic Club runner ran 7.37.13 to finish 5th in a world-class race at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. The time improved his own Tonbridge AC indoor record and was also quicker than his own outdoor record.
West moves to number five on the UK all-time list, one place behind Mo Farah and the time was inside the qualifying time needed for the European Indoor Championships, which take place in the Netherlands in early March. However, to gain GB selection he will have to place in the top two at the trials, later in February.
There were some other indoor successes, at the weekend, for Tonbridge athletes, who were taking part in the South of England Championships, at Lee Valley. The championships were for senior and under 20 age group athletes and the only Tonbridge gold medal was won by Matilda Secker in the under 20 women’s High Jump. Secker cleared 1.76 metres to win, with club mate Ella Thomas placing 3rd with 1.65 metres.
Two bronze medals came from the 400 metres athletes, with Asha Root running 55.71 in the final of the women’s event and Tom Daly recording 50.15 in the under 20 men’s final. For Root this was an indoor personal best, whilst Daly’s time was his fastest ever, indoors or outdoors. Harry Owen also won a bronze medal, when he finished 3rd in the under 20 men’s Pole Vault, with an indoor personal best of 3.60 metres.
In addition to the medals, Max Selby won his heat of the men’s 800 metres in 1.52.25, which was a personal best and just inside the qualifying time required for the UK Championships, later in the month. However, he did not contest the final, due to a tight hamstring.
Three of the club’s senior 800 metres runners also competed indoors at the weekend, travelling to Gent in Belgium for a World Athletics Continental Tour meeting. Jack Higgins was second in the men’s A race with a time of 1.48.86, whilst Ben Gardiner and Ted Higgins both won their races in 1.49.75 and 1.51.06, respectively.
There were plenty of Tonbridge young athletes competing for Kent in the South-East Schools Inter Counties event, at Newbury, Berkshire, on Saturday. Three of them achieved top ten placings in their respective races. Harrison Fraser finished 8th in the Senior Boys’ race, Will Bachelor 5th in the Inter age group event and Joel Graffin was 10th in the Junior Boys’ race.
On Sunday, Charlotte Alexander won the women’s event at the Chichester 10km road race in 34.04.