Championship Cheer for HAC

THE past weekend was the designated County Championship competition weekend right across the country for athletics. Harlow had athletes competing at Peterborough for Cambridgeshire, Watford for Hertfordshire and Chelmsford for Essex.

Katie Lee missed out on a place in the U13 long jump cut for the top eight athletes but did record a PB of 3.78m. There was controversy as she went to compete in her favoured event of 800m but was not informed of a change in heats and missed her new race time.

Meanwhile, at Watford, Freddie Henderson took his indoor and early season form into the Hertfordshire championships. He was second in the U15 100m final in a time of 12.5s to claim silver and was edged out in a tight finish in the 200m. His time of 25.6s was good enough for fifth place.

As you would expect the majority of Harlow athletes participated in the Essex championships. Day one got under way with hurdles and there were good performances from three athletes. Beth Harryman ran the senior distance of 100m for women for the very first time. Her time of 16.5s was good enough for silver in this straight-to-final event.

Millie Upton didn’t progress to the final but set a new PB of 13.53s. Club mate, Grace Iyinbor, did negotiate the rounds to reach the final in a competitive U15 field. She was third in new PB time of 12.39s. Mia Rowan qualified for the U13 final and was fourth, also in a new PB time of 12.8s.

Whilst the hurdle action was unfolding on the track, Leo Chashchin was in competition in the high jump. He broke through the magic mark of being able to jump your own height or better and set a new PB of 1.90m in the process. His performance was good enough to secure U20 silver and take himself a step closer to a national qualification standard; he needs 1.95m for an invitation to a selection event.

The sprints are very competitive in the Eastern Region and in Essex in particular at this time. It is unusual to require heats at county events at 300m and 400m but they were required on this occasion. James Petty made the U15 300m final and was edged out of a medal in a hotly contested final ten metres. The photo saw him placed fifth. He could console himself with a new PB of 39.98s.

In the shorter sprint of 100m Marley Sarling made the final and came through on the line for the silver medal. His time of 12.34s was not a PB but is still quick for the age group.

Back on the field, Leo Chashchin was in action in the pole vault. He made progress on his new pole and managed a vault of 3.30m which was good enough to ensure he became County Champion outdoors to go with his indoor crown.

Also in action at the same time were Mia Rowan and Grace Iyinbor, this time in the shot putt. Mia was fourth for the second time in the day with a throw of 5.35m in the U13 competition. Grace was third again and with a huge new PB, extending it to 8.92m and earning her her second bronze medal of the day. Unfortunately a foot injury saw her having to withdraw from two further events on Day Two.

Day Two was just as fruitful for the club particularly in the javelin: Marley Sarling was back and threw 44.39m for a new PB and second place. Ellie Marklew in the U15 girl’s event managed a new PB of 20.10m and will surely develop further to be a contender next year, finishing fifth overall in her first year at U15.

Twins, Logan and Samuel Putt, were both in action for the U13 Boys. Logan managed a new PB of 17.16m and was in third position right up until the sixth and final round when a Havering athlete agonisingly went 11cm further. Sam was not to be similarly thwarted and pulled out a throw of 22.82m to become a county champion and increase his PB for the event.

Leo Chashchin also made a return on Day Two in the U20 long jump. His best jump of 6.14m was good enough only for fourth. Perhaps not unsurprisingly he felt that he had no energy left and withdrew from the triple jump later in the day.

Also in long jump action were Millie Upton in the U15 competition and Sophia Bridle in the U13 event. Millie made it into the top eight jumpers and her best leap of 4.48m was good enough for fifth overall and a new PB. Sophia’s event clashed with the heats of the 200m. Nevertheless, she remained composed enough to make the top eight despite missing some rounds. Her best jump of 4.31m was good enough for bronze.

In the 200m Sophia made it through to the final and ran 28.39s for silver. At U15 level Marley Sarling and James Petty both made it to the final. Sadly, a recurrence of a hip injury saw Petty withdraw. Sarling ran a new PB of 24.42s but was edged out of a medal in a photo finish by an athlete from Woodford Green. Gabrielle Bridle was the club’s only U17 and she ran 30.45s which was not enough to progress but it was a new PB for her.

Jamie Putt was in 800m action and his first round time 2.04.35mins equalled his PB set indoors earlier this year. In the final he could muster only a time of 2.06.10mins for fifth place.

The last event of the day with interest for Harlow athletes was the shot putt. Throwing the 4k shot in the U20 competition was Beth Harryman. Her best throw of 10.06m was good enough for silver. Not to be outdone training partner, Breanna Philip, threw the 3k shot at U17 level. Her best throw of 10.67m also notched silver.

Reviewing the weekend, club chair Steve Lott said; “A return of two gold, eight silver and four bronze for a club of our size is no small achievement. What’s even better is that our athletes are competitive in a range of events and not just on the track. Many congratulations to the athletes and their coaches.”

Grace Iyinbor took part at the County championship in Chelmsford.