Championship Cheer for Harlow Athletic Club

HARLOW athletes were out in force at National and County events this weekend. There was a strong contingent of racers at the national wheelchair event, held at Bedford: Richard Chiassaro produced some even faster times than those set in Notwill, Switzerland, last weekend. Pride of place for him was the 100m in a time of 14.32 seconds.

Three athletes competed in the T34 category at different ages. Adam Goldspink-Burgess (U23) didn’t go lower than the string of Personal Bests set at Soke Mandeville last weekend; Joe Brazier (U20) managed new bests in the 200m and 800m and was only fractionally outside of his 100m and 400m times; Thomas Miller set new season’s best times and is closing in on personal best times. Finally, in the T33 category, Emma Alexander raced well. Many of the athletes were left frustrated by illegally strong tailwinds that rendered some performances void.

At the same time athletes were competing at County Championships at Watford and Chelmsford respectively. A small contingent raced in Hertfordshire and performed well: Mohamed Tambedou won the U20 100m in a new best time of 11.12; Ben Sloan missed out on a bronze by ‘countback’ and recorded a best jump of 1.45m; Ben and Sam Sloan both ran the 800m and 1500m, setting new best times in the process.

Meanwhile, at Chelmsford, a larger group took part in the Essex County Championships. There were two gold medals: Bethany Harryman won the U17 Women’s High Jump and now holds both the indoor and outdoor titles; Charles Tankeh ran an excellent 100m in 11.02 s.

The club’s athletes claimed four silver medals: Regan Lawrence set a new fastest time of 12.65s in the semi-final but clipped a hurdle in the final to finish second. He could take some comfort from the fact that he is now ranked second overall for Under 13 boys; James Petty ran a wind assisted 100m in a time of 13.26s; Polly Woods set a new PB as she threw the hammer over 35 metres and Lewis Harknett took an incredible thirty seconds of his previous best 3000m time, which now stands at 9.30.04 minutes.

There were also three bronze medals: Teale Cunningham jumped 1.65m in the U17 High Jump; Polly Woods jumped 10.18m in the women’s Triple Jump and James Petty ran the 200m in 27.73, setting a new PB and moving up the rankings to 15th in the country.

Outside of the medals were some notable performances as they were all bests for the athletes concerned: Ami Ashby went under 13 seconds in the 75m Hurdles and significantly reduced her 200m time. Katie Brennan (U13) ran a new 800m PB in taxing conditions as, by the time she was running, there were strong cross-winds affecting both straights.

At the conclusion of the weekend club chairman, Steve Lott, said; “The season has begun really well for the club as a whole. Our youth team has made great strides, our senior team sits tops of its division and now we have some fantastic individual success to celebrate. Many congratulations to all the athletes for their hard work and dedication. Also to their coaches who put in as many hours planning and preparing to make these times and distances possible.”

FULL WEEKEND HARLOW RESULTS:
Bedford
T54 Senior Men:
Richard Chiassaro
100m 14:32 pb
200m  time won’t stand as illegal tail wind
400m 47:76
800m 1:35.59 pb

T34 U23 Men
Adam Goldspink-Burgess
100m 21:84
200m time won’t stand as again illegal tail wind
400m 1:15.85
800m 2:28.28
1500m 4.48.56

T34 U20 Men
Joe Brazier
100m 17:45
200m 31.08 pb
400m 1:02.60
800m 2:01.35 pb

T34 U13 Boys
Thomas Miller
100m 28:03
200m again time will not stand due to illegal tail wind
400m 1:50.76

T33 U23 Women
Emma Alexander
100m 42:06
200m again time will not stand due to illegal tail wind
400m 2:41.19

Hertfordshire
Name                           Age Group      Event                           Performance
Mo Tambedou             M U20             100m   Gold                11.12 PB
Ben Sloan                    B U15             HJ        4th countback   1.45m PB

OTHER HERTS RESULTS: B U15 800m Sam Sloan 2.27.0 (PB), Ben Sloan 2.24.0 (PB); B U15 JT Ben Sloan 18.00; 1500m B U15 Sam Sloan 5.13.0 (PB) and Ben Sloan 4.57.0 (PB)

Essex
Bethany Harryman      W U17            HJ        Gold 1.55
Lewis Harknett        M U17             3K       Silver 9.30.04 PB
Regan Lawrence        B U13             75mH Silver 12.65 PB
James Petty           B U13             100m   Silver               13.26 SB (wind assisted)
James Petty           B U13             200m   Bronze 27.73 PB
Polly Woods           SW                  TJ        Bronze             10.18m
Polly Woods           SW                  HT       Silver               35.55 PB
Teale Cunningaham    M U17             HJ        Bronze             1.65m
Charles Tankeh        SM                  100m   Gold                11.02 SB

OTHER ESSEX RESULTS: G U15 75m H Ami Ashby 12.99 PB and 200m 28.26 PB; G U13 800m 2.55.31 PB Katie Brennan; M U17 400m Teale Cunningham and Owen Harknett 60.26