Weekly Update - 24th July 2024

SIAB Schools International, Carmarthen (Sat. 20th July)

After their English Schools wins the previous weekend Emily Cadman and Lily Gayle made the trip down the M4 to what was a wet and windy South Wales, writes Mick Bond. Pitted against the best from Scotland, Wales and Ireland both acquitted themselves well with Emily picking up silver in the 200m (24.57s) and Lily bronze in the 80m hurdles (11.47s). Emily was less than two tenths outside her best whilst Lily was only a hundredth outside hers, not bad at all considering the conditions. Both now head off to Birmingham this weekend for the England Under 17 Championships.

Lily Gayle - Emily Cadman

Wanda Diamond League - London Athletics Meet, Olympic Stadium (Sat. 20th July)

In her last competition before the Olympic Games, Daryll Neita ran a seasons best over 200m of 22.20s.

The track programme got under way with the Club Connect Relays, reports Emily Yeatman. We had four teams invited to participate as both our U15 & U17 girls and boys teams are ranked within the top eight 4 x 100 teams in London. Unfortunately, the U17W were unable to field a team due to selection for other competitions and/or injuries. It was a fantastic experience for our young athletes. Who also met a few famous friends of the Club on the day! The U15G secured a season’s best of 49.99s.

England Athletics Senior/U23/U20 Championships, Birmingham (19th-21st July)

Hannah Hopper retained her U23W 3000m race walk title, her performance was reported on the EA Day 2 report as "Hannah Hopper (Noel Carmody, Cambridge Harriers) was a class apart in the 3000m race walk. She went straight to the front from the gun and was never headed, clocking 14:57.66s."

Second claimer Luc Legon took silver in the senior men's race removing five seconds from his previous best with a time of 12:29.46s.

Sprinters Dayne Douglas (U20M) and Christel Izuchukwu (U23W), although unable to progress past the heats of the 100m, recording times of 11.33s and 12.77s respectively into a significant head wind, will no doubt benefit from their first experience of a national championship.

Cambridge Harriers Sutcliffe Park Track & Field Nights #3, Eltham (Wed. 17th July)

A glorious summer evening, healthy entry numbers and good organisation made for an enjoyable evening’s athletics. There were PB's a plenty across the track and field program. Full results here.

The clubs last open meeting of the summer is on August 14th, enter on line here.

Southern Counties Veterans AC League, Kent Division 1, Dartford (Fri. 19th July)

Men (Tim Carter): An outstanding team performance to win the match and finish third in the league having leapfrogged B&B and ahead of Ashford - our relegation rivals.

There were six winners on the night. Our strength was always the 800m and Chris Loudon and Edmund Adigwe duly delivered 1st places - Chris 2:01.1s in M35A and Ed 2:05.0s in M35B - brilliant efforts.  Steven Marlow won the discus M35 with 33.39m destroying the field, the brilliantly versatile duo Wole Odele M50 TJ - 10.19m and Paris Hunt - 13.6s in theM60 100m and 8.92m in M60 TJ.

There were six winners on the night...our strength was always the 800m and Chris Loudon and Edmund Adigwe duly delivered 1st places - Chris 2:01.1s in M35A and Ed 2:05.0s in M35B - brilliant efforts.  Steven Marlow won the discus M35 with a throw of 33.39m destroying the field, the brilliantly versatile duo Wole Odele M50 TJ - 10.19m and Paris Hunt - 13.6 in 100m M60 and 8.92m in M60 TJ.

Second places were awarded to Duncan Hope M35B 100m - 12.6s - a great sprinting discovery for us for a middle distance/triathlete competitor. Hjalti Rognvaldsson  M35 TJ 9.44m - fine jump and Peter Wishart M60 Discus - 37.76m - a great throw only 0.13m from winning.

Other notable performances - 4x200m relay in 1:46.8s -3rd place for Hjalti, Duncan, Ed and Wole. A great season's best for the flying Wole in M50 100m - 12.7s, and he also produced an excellent M50m 800m run (1st 800m this season) 2:24.6s . Paris 3rd in M50 discus giving away years - 25.66m. A point for the team at very short notice in M35A 100m for Hjalti - well done.

Non-scoring included - Richard Lewis M65 100m - 16.4s recovering very well after a dodgy start, Duncan a sound 2:21.5s in 800m and John Barron M65 in 800m beating his 3mins target with a 2:57.6s.

A pleasure working with some highly talented, top ranked masters athletes. Importantly they were willing to compete in unfamiliar events for a point for the team. We will aim for a top two place next year, strengthening M35 sprints and PV events in particular.

Women (Chris Bond): Despite our best efforts we finished 5th and now have to wait to see if relegated or not. Individually there were some fine performances and great team spirit on the night.

First places came from Christine Bond in the high jump, and Rose Baker in the 800m, which according to our records means Rose may now be chasing Ros Tabor’s club record in W60 800m time of 2:50.3s. Second places Natalie Mann in the discus & Sophie Johnson in the high jump. With quite a few absences and no other interest it was two new members to the track & field team that did us proud, both admitting they were not very fast but willing to fill a gap. Having to bring her two young daughters trackside Donna Martin competed in the W35 100m & 800m, whilst Theresa Massey who has run over 450 marathons to date tried a bit of speed work running the 100 and a leg of the 4x200.  Thanks to everyone who competed or volunteered over the six matches.

UK Youth Development League Lower - Southern 1D, Dartford (Sun. 21st July)

All the teams performed well in the heat and there were plenty of PB’s to round off the final YDL of the season, writes Emily Yeatman. Well done all!

U13G: There were PB’s for Amaiah Lopez-Teape in 75m (10.87s) and the 200m (21.11s); in the 800m both Seren Yeatman (2:29.99s) and Lizzie Sanders (2:34.91s); shot Chloe Lindsey (6.45m); Esther Yeatman in the 1200 (4:14:36s) and javelin (10.56m); it was Redemption Nworah’s first competition for the club competing in the 75m (10.87s) and in the high jump (1.15m).

U15G: There were PB’s for Sophie Floyd in javelin (16.32m), discus (25.36m); Nia Thomas in 75mH (11.51s), 200m (26.77s); in the shot both Brenda Adetunji (10.87m) and Eniola Sodeke (7.10m); in the 800m Uchenna Adigwe (2:42.32s); in the 1500m Meredith Cummins (2:01.38s); and Samuela Cuffie in the 100m (13.50s).

U13B: There were PB’s for Zion Odele in the 150m (20.63s) and high jump (1.20m); Phoenix London 150m (22.17s) and 800m (2:45.61s); Rupert Scott 800m (2:40.34s) and long jump (3.55m); Aran Shipley 800m (2:44.41s); and PB’s in the 1200m for both Herbie Tobin (3:51.10s) and Oto Weir (4:08.82s).

Snowden Race/Ras Yr Wyddfa (Sat. 20th July)

Just two of us made it up to Llanberis for this year's Snowdon Race, writes Clem Dixon. It rained and we were in cloud most of the time but it wasn't cold and there were none of the gale force winds that had caused a curtailment of the race last year so we were allowed to go to the top.

James Floyd was at the top in 1:15, his descent was interrupted, first by a need to change the battery in his GoPro, and then by a fall (a couple of minor bruises, but don't worry, the GoPro was unharmed!), but he still finished inside 2 hours. Abbreviated footage from the GoPro can be found here or if you are a glutton for punishment check out the S4C coverage on iPlayer (warning it's in Welsh!)

This is a higher profile fell race than most with international teams included in the large field. The winner was Joe Steward representing England finishing in 1:05 (at which time James and I were still more than 10 minutes from the summit!) he was flying but he was still 3 minutes outside the course record set by the legendary Kenny Stuart in 1985. Both the male and female team prizes went to Italy.

Results: James Floyd 270th Summit 1:15:35 Finish 1:56:19; Clem Dixon 379th Summit 1:23:03 Finish 2:13:47.

St Cuthbert's Way Ultra (Sat. 20th July)

Christian Poulton completed the St Cuthbert's Way Ultra run from Melrose in Scotland to Lindisfarne in Northumberland a distance of 100km with over 8000 feet of ascent. 30th place in 16:26:04.