ACTION for Harlow Athletic Club has come thick and fast, with teams in action over the past two weekends and the Age Group Championships this weekend.

The senior team began this period with their third fixture at St Albans on 14 July. The result was disappointing for the team, finishing last in the six-team fixture. However, there were bright spots for individuals.

For the men, two newcomers this season, Zane Spring and Tommy Newnham both recorded personal bests. Both young men have made great strides forward since starting just before the season and with a full winter’s training behind them will be in even better shape for next season.

In a blisteringly quick 800m by club standards, Alfred Corrigan ran 2.05.09 minutes to record a PB. However, this was only good enough for fifth place on the day!

At 5K distance, both Harlow athletes hit PB marks. Manny Richards ran the distance in 17.18.6 minutes and club mate, Daniel Chapman, ran the distance in 17.20.4 minutes.

On the field, Carl Paxman jumped his furthest long jump of the season, 6.33m, and he was ably backed up in the B event by Thomas Graham who jumped a new PB of 5.11m. Not to be outdone by brother, Carl, Glen Paxman jumped his best triple jump of the year; a jump of 12.51m.

On the women’s side of the match, Halle-Brooke Lawson recorded a PB in the 100m of 14.6s. This was the only sprint performance by a Harlow athlete on a sparsely attended day.

In the cage, Stuart Thurgood, now a second claim member of the club, made the long journey up from Dorset to compete in the Hammer. It proved a fruitful trip as he threw 49.96m to win the competition.

There was excitement in the 400m as Phoebe Gill, who will be at the Olympics, representing GB, still turned out for her hometown club to use the event as speed training. Naturally, she won the race in some style but the adrenaline of competing against such company inspired all the women. Eilidh Malcolm and Faryl Wright both recorded new PBs: the former in 62.3s and the latter in 64.3s.

Perhaps buoyed by this, Wright went on to record a new PB in the 800m as well. Her new best time is 2.27.3 minutes.

Louise Duffy, who is still an U17 in athletic terms, has stepped up well to run senior heights in both the 100m and 400m hurdles. She had a good day recording two personal bests. Her 100m time now stands at 17.9s and her 400m at 79 seconds. As she builds her stamina, both will improve further.

There was further individual success in throwing events: Sharon Wright, more usually known for track, stepped in to throw shot and threw a PB of 6.44m; Rhiana Drew also threw a PB in the shot but was most pleased with her 37.24m in the Hammer. Not only was this her new best mark, but it also broke a long-standing women’s club record.

Last weekend, the Youth League season came to an end. Whilst numbers have been steady, there has not been enough participation to make a mark as a club. Something that the club must aim to do in future years is turn strong training numbers into regular participation.

Most notably, this is true for Under 13 boys where the club has only had one competitor at each match. On this occasion, Orlando Alexander made his debut and ran well for third place in the A 100m.

Turnout was a little better for the girls and there were a number of personal bests: Sharon Segun-Fatumo recorded a PB of 14.8 as she was third in the A 100m; Willow Richards also ran her best time in the 200m, 32.5s; Rose Marshall and Alexa Tsinides-O’Shea both jumped well in the long jump at 3.64m and 3.07m respectively; Richards also threw a new PB in the javelin of 19.40m. She was supported by Isabella Springer who threw 14.09m.

At Under 15 level, the indefatigable George Watkins ran 1500m and 100m and 200m, just for speed work. In his main event, he was second and recorded PB times in the two sprints. 

In the A sprint race, George Simpson ran a new PB of 13.2 and there are already encouraging signs for next season as he will still be U15. Soshin Yoshitake-Thatcher made his season’s debut and ran well at 200m and 800m. In the latter, he recorded a new best of 2.29.6 minutes. Harrison Brown also ran a PB time in the 800m of 2.30.1 minutes.

There were further good performances in sprint events for the U15 girl’s side of competition: Tia Weekes ran a PB of 13.44, Holly Austin equalled her best at 13.85. She repeated this at 200m distance setting her new mark at 26.82s. Zoe Kaku also ran a PB in 28.8s and non-scoring Izzy Fowler also recorded her fastest time of 30.4s. Maya Willis ran her first ever 300m in a creditable 52.2 seconds. 

Ciara Dobson ran her best 75m hurdles in 15.2 seconds. She followed this up with a massive new best height in the high jump where she jumped 1.30m. Izzy Fowler recorded a best height of 1.20m on her club debut. Dobson’s good day continued with a third PB in the shot. She threw 5.87m and was supported by Maya Willis with her best throw of 5.27m.

Lacey Murray and Jasmine Larke Had good days in the long jump and the javelin, recording PBs in both events. Murray threw 23.13m in the javelin and jumped 4.10m in the long jump. Larke threw 19.66m and jumped 3.68m.

Under 17 Men’s and Women’s events were similarly sparse. Nevertheless, Tommy Newnham, newcomer this season, ended his youth season on a personal high. He was a fraction outside of his best 100m time and ran an excellent 200m for a best time of 23.8s. He started the season with a best run of 13.55s and his fastest run of the year is 11.7s. With another year in this age group, he is an athlete to watch.

Manny Richards, who has turned his hand to a range of distances this season ran 400m at this match and ran his best time, 58.9s. Daniel Sokunle ran in the A race and ran 56.1s.

Connor McEwan made his season debut at 1500m and ran a massive new best of 4.44.3 minutes. Club mate, Daniel Hundley also recorded his best time at 5.04.7 minutes.

And in the long jump, Daniel Sokunle and Will Smith both went over 5m in the A and B events. Both marks were new PBs; Sokunle jumped 5.28m and Smith 5.20m.

To cap this busy period for Harlow athletes, George Watkins ran at the National Age Group Championships, in Birmingham on Friday night. He has had another excellent season and went to these championships as the Southern Counties Champion at 3000m. On this occasion, his time of 9.20.68 minutes, was good enough for sixth overall.

The club’s final action for 2024 takes place at Woodford Green on 17 August in the Southern Athletics League for senior athletes.