ASHFORD’S Debbie Martin was one of the stars of this year’s Kent Championships at the Julie Rose Stadium – but she was in and gone before most of the spectators had even arrived.
One of the first events on day 1 the talented high jumper retained her U20 county title equalling her own championship best of 1.65m set last year.
Conditions both days were excellent and it was one of three championship bests.
Dina Asher-Smith of Blackheath and Bromley broke the U20 100m record that had stood for 27 years clocking 11.75 while Mahmood Shah Khiaisto (S Factor) set a new mark of 36.89 seconds taking the U15 300m gold in style.
It was another good championships for Ashford with a dozen titles including a clean sweep in the longest track event the senior women’s 5000m won by Janine Brown from teammates Candy Hawkins and Georgie Twist.
Rising young star Ben Isaac won two county titles taking the 80m hurdles in a photo finish with 13.12 and also the long jump with 5.44m.
The new photo equipment was back in action for the senior men giving veteran Pete Davey victory in the 110m hurdles after clocking 16.49 along with Medway and Maidstone’s Alexander Wharfe.
Matt Morsia went close to a championship double taking the long jump crown with 6.79m but just missed the triple jump as well with 14.53m.
Blake Robson secured the U20 discus crown with 33.86m but George Huxley just missed out on hurdles glory second in the 110m and third in the 400m but George did set a club record and PB 15.28 in the 100m hurdles.
Ellie Gooding had a great championship winning the U17 80m hurdles with a PB 12.43 with teammate Kayleigh Miller-Leslie second and was also second in the pole vault with 3.30m with Lana-Emily Foyle in fourth.
Stevie Langford defied an injury to keep her senior women’s high jump crown with 1.60m and Rachel Hanagan shone again winning the long jump with 5.08m and silver in the triple jump with 11.07m with sister Laura outstanding in the U17 events winning the triple jump with silvers in the 100m hurdles in a PB 15.45 and long jump.
Abigail Pukis took gold in the U17 triple jump with 8.72m and in the U15s Alex Lynch wonthe shot with 10.64m.
Jacob Lane had a busy weekend in the U17s with silvers in the triple jump and pole vault plus bronze in the high jump and was edged out of another bronze in the long jump by teammate Ben Morsia. Another clubmate Jack Huxley took the pole vault bronze.
There were a rash other medal winning displays with nearly 40 medals taken over the weekend. Charlotte Tappenden ran a PB in the heats of the U15 75m hurdles but had to settle for silver in the final and in another fine hurdles display Lauren Bamford was second in the U17 300m event.
Veteran Gary McDonald was second in the men’s 3000m walk as was Matt Hogben in the men’s high jump with Chris Blandford third in the javelin.
Aaron Meakin was second in the U20 hammer while in the women Amelia Jones ran a fine 800m for silver and Caitlin Dock was second in the pole vault as was Amber Regardsoe in the discus.
Jenn Tibbenham claimed bronzes in the senior women’s shot and discus just missing another in the hammer with fourth but even out of the medals there were a number of personal bests secured by Ashford athletes.
Early riser nets gold
Kushal on target for Paralympics
ASHFORD AC senior Kushal Limbu in on course for selection for the Paralympics after a fine display at the VISA London Disability Athletics Challenge event at the Olympic Stadium in the T44 100m and 200m events.
Kushal smashed his lifetime best in the 200m finishing second against a world class field in a time of 25.28s this time is 0.72s under the Paralympic B-Standard and only 0.18s outside the A-standard.
He currently ranks fourth in the World T43 ranking for 2012.
An hour and half later he competed in the 100m finishing third with a new PB of 12.63s which also ranks him in 4th place in the world rankings.
These performances show his is on course to be selected for the London 2012 Paralympics.
Battling display in higher division
AFTER gaining promotion from Division 1 to the Premier league of the McCain’s Young Athletes League last year, 49 of the younger athletes from Ashford AC travelled to Bromley for their first meeting of the season.
As well as tough opposition from some of the best clubs in the south, they also had to deal with some awful wet and windy weather.
The team were realistic about their task and decided to do their best not to come last of the six competing teams. In fact the team of 49 athletes really excelled themselves finishing in fourth place, well clear of the fifth and sixth teams.
With 2 more fixtures, the team will want to reinforce this result to achieve their goal of remaining in the Premier division. Both team managers, Tina Tappenden and Lorna Miller, will be looking for greater numbers to enable them to plug the gaps in some of the events and also to take the pressure off other athletes.
The success on the day was fairly well spread across all disciplines of track and field which not only bodes well for the future but with sufficient numbers, will also allow for better choices for the athletes.
A good number of athletes were contesting events for the first time which will establish personal best performances for them. There were, however, in excess of 30 personal best performances bettered or equalled– an excellent achievement.
In addition to the overall performance of the athletes, Ashford’s team of officials and parents also excelled on the day and with the likelihood of better weather days in the future, it is hoped that the club maintains it’s standard.
Match scores: Blackheath& Bromley 908 points, Croydon 834.5, Tonbridge 814, ASHFORD 605, Havering/Mayesbrook 557, Basildon 485.5.
Under 13
Girls: – Alex Prickett, Emilla Isaac, Hannah Graham, Jess Carley, Hannah Brooks, Jess Box, Jaimee-Ann Heyes.
The 7 girls did extremely well to cover the eight events (A+B )and the relay. Between them they achieved six personal bests, and four AAA standards; two grade2 and two grade 4.
Boys: -Jake Timmins, Ryan Miller-Leslie, Kian Crawford, Lewis Godden, Elliott Rudd.
With only 5 boys to cover A and B strings for eight events, the day was a hard slog. Typical of what they had to do was Elliott sprinting from the High Jump competition to get to the start of the 200m race. However, despite this type of pressure the boys managed three personal bests and 2 grade 4 performances. An excellent team effort.
Under 15
Girls: – Charlotte Tappenden, Ruby Cox, Danielle Godden, Ciara Ewart, Hannah Owen, Ememobong Umoh, Eve Graham, Rebecca Cock, Mary Coleman.
Despite all their best efforts, 9 girls were unable to cover 22 events (A+B), so a number of events were not contested. They did, however, manage to achieve 2 personal bests and 2 grade 4 standards. This particular group will need more support in numbers at the next two meetings; not just for points, but to give those that do turn out more scope for their own events. Well done, girls!
Boys: – Ben Isaac, Cameron Amedee, Kieran Eland, Matt Brisley, Alex Lynch, Edward Miller, Joe Briault, Owen Morgan, Alex Hardy, Daniel Hall, Daniel Steadman.
The team of 11 boys followed the same pattern as the other groups; filling in events wherever they could and incredibly even managed to improve on 9 personal bests between them. In addition they also achieved one grade I and three grade 4 standards. This was all done trying to cover 24 events (A+B) and the 2 relays. An excellent display of determination.
Under 17
Women: -Kayliegh Miller-Leslie, Lana Foyle, Rosa Bradford, Abbie Purkiss, Lauren Bamford, Ellie Gooding, Katie Keet, Kate Lillington, Megan Lillington, Lizzie Highwood.
The older group includes more events so cover gets even more difficult without the numbers. The ten athletes were expected to cover 17 events (A+B) plus 2 relays. This again was a tough call but the young athletes stuck to the task and put up an excellent show, achieving 7 personal bests, and 4 AAA standards; one grade2, one grade 3 and two grade 4. This age group are close to moving up to senior standard of competition so need to focus more on their specific events. This will only happen with more support. Well done ladies.
Men: – Jacob Lane, Jake Thacker, Ben Cox, Aaron Sekwalor, James Racine, Joe Levick, Jack Huxley.
This group had the hardest time with an almost impossible task. Trying to cover 17 events (A+B) and 2 relays with 7 athletes is too much to ask. Hopefully this situation will improve as the season unfolds.
There were some excellent performances from this small group and they are to be complimented for their efforts.
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