Photo – Lucy Tallon with her European under 20 women’s 200 metres silver medal
Lucy Tallon, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, had the most impressive performances of her career at the European Under 20 Championships, held at Tampere, Finland. She came away from the event with two silver medals, one from the 200 metres and one as part of the Great Britain 4x100m relay team.
The individual 200 metres came first, with the first round being held on Friday, where she won her heat in 23.65. The semi -finals and the final were held on Saturday and once again she won the former, setting a new personal best of 23.37 and breaking the Tonbridge AC club record. In the final, despite a strong finish, which saw her claim the silver medal in 23.49, she finished second to Judith Mokobe of Germany, who won in 23.40.
On Sunday, Tallon ran the second leg on the Great Britain 4x100m relay team which finished second in 43.98, as Italy won in 43.72. The GB team were just 0.2 seconds away from the national under 20 women’s record.
Another young sprinter at Tonbridge who impressed last week was Lili-Elle Addy, who is in the under 13 age group. On Sunday, she set a new Tonbridge under 13 girls’ 100 metres record of 13.02, racing for Kent, at Walton. Then, on Tuesday, at the Tonbridge open meeting she ran 13.43 for 100 metres and 27.63 for 200 metres, both into a headwind. Under 17 Lucas Bowen was the fastest Tonbridge male athlete over 200m with a personal best of 23.86. In the 1500m races, James Kingston was fastest with 3.53.58 and Katie Goodge the quickest female with a lifetime best of 4.34.73.
Ben Cole set a new 5000 metres personal best and Tonbridge AC over 40 men’s record of 14.21.33 at the British Milers Grand Prix meeting, at Trafford, on Saturday evening.
Henry Marshall was close to his sprint personal bests, at Bromley, on Monday, where he recorded 10.99 for 100m and 21.70 for 200m. Ted Higgins recovered from his fall in the heats at the UK Championships and travelled, with his brother Jack, to Szczecin in Poland for the World Continental Tour Bronze Level Meeting, on Wednesday. They both raced over 800m where Jack placed 6th of 13 starters in 1.46.69, with Ted 9th with a personal best of 1.47.09. This performance moved Ted Higgins to third on the Tonbridge all-time men’s list for 800 metres.
Above – TAC under 13 girls 100m record holder