Watford Open Graded Meeting (Wed. 3rd May)
It was certainly a fruitful journey to Watford for the Watford Open Graded Meeting last Wednesday for Iris Williams (U15) and Olly Buck (U17), with both recording big personal bests. Iris ran in Race 8 of the 1500 meters finishing in third place with a time of 4:42.00s, removing seven seconds from her previous best. In the 3000 meters Olly reduced his personal best by eleven seconds to 9:14.95s.
Southern Counties Veterans AC, Kent Division 1, Sutcliffe Park (Fri. 5th May)
The club's masters athletes got their season underway with a home match at Sutcliffe Park. Well done to team managers Christine Bond and Mark Ashby for putting the teams together. There were some gaps, with no triple jumpers on the women's side and an injury sustained during warmup meant no representation in the men's M35 400 meters.
Wins on the night came courtesy of Chris Loudon (8:56.4s) and James Macdonald (9:48.7s) in the M35 3000m, Susan Dixon (W55) in the W35 B-string 3000m in 12:09.5s and Paris Hunt in the M60 triple jump with a jump of 8.77m.
James Macdonald - Chris Loudon
In the non-scoring 3000m, Mick Ellsmore established an inaugural M70 club record of 13:53.2s.
At the end of the night the women's team finished in equal third with Blackheath and the men's team were fourth.
UK Youth Development League Lower - Southern 1B, Bedford (Sun. 7th May)
Our longest trip of the year took us to Bedford for the first YDL (Lower Age Group) fixture, reports Mick Bond. Like the Under 20’s and Under 17’s the previous week we were promoted last year and so were expecting a tough match and so it turned out to be. Woodford Green dominated the match and with a few key players missing on our side and the same lack of under 13 boys that we had experienced at the Kent League fixture we ended up 6th out of the 7 teams competing. In the final results we were actually not that far off 3rd place and a bit more recruiting should see us move up the results and stay in this Division at the end of the year.
Under 15 Boys The 300m is the most hotly contested event amongst the Under 15’s this year with four lads already running sub 41 for the event. Josh Wellings made it five and tops the club rankings with a 39.29s clocking whilst Immanuel Jegede moved up to third overall with 39.66s. Elijah Olaleye teamed up with Ekenna Ogbonna to give us A and B-String wins in the 80m hurdles and then joined with Daniel Obike to do likewise in the high jump.
Under 15 Girls: This was probably the most hotly contested age group of the day with exceedingly high standards across nearly all events. There were PB’s a plenty though our only winner on the day was Ethel Olaigbe in the hammer.
Under 13 Boys: Monty Brown and Johnny Ravenscroft both ran PB’s in the 800 with Johnny winning the B-string event. Caleb Warnke jumped a big PB of 4.58m for second in the long jump.
Under 13 Girls: Elizabeth McKen showed good spring and technique winning the long jump with an impressive 4.18m whilst there were lots more PB’s especially as athletes tried events for the first time in competition.
Kent AC Coronation Games, Ladywell Arena (Sun. 7th May)
Meredith Cummins (U15) achieved a personal best of 2:46.66s in Heat 1 of the 800m and there was a seasons best for Wole Odele (M55) also over 800m of 2:16.94s.
Meredith Cummins
RunThrough Victoria Park, Hackney (Sun. 7th May)
Liam Carr (U20) removed one minute twenty-six seconds from his previous best road 5k, clocking 18:54 for third place overall. In the 10k Liam's mum Sally ran her fastest time since 2021 finishing in 63rd place overall and first in the W50 age group with a time of 45:22. She was followed one second later by her sister Susan Dixon who took first in the W50 age group. Joanna Parke took second in the W45 age group in 51:05. Phil Dickens crossed the line in 35:00 for 5th overall and first M40.
Sally Carr - Liam Carr - Susan Dixon - Joanna Parke
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