M&M put on county show
Athletics
Medway & Maidstone AC were up to speed in the Kent Cross-Country Championships at Brands Hatch last Saturday.
M& M fielded strong men’s teams at every age group. Although Tonbridge dominated many races, Medway & Maidstone collected numerous team medals.
The under-17 team took bronze with Jaques Cunningham-Marsh leading them home in 11th. Quinn Austin (16th), Owen Featherstone (20th) and Reegan Archer (25th) were the other team medal winners.
The under-20s went one better, claiming silver medals. Jake Berry was fourth, Cameron Payas seventh and Max Read 12th in the three-to-score team. Marley Godden provided good back-up support in 17th place.
The senior men team took bronze in both the six-to-score and 12-to-score team positions. Ben Tyler was the first club runner home in seventh, with Tom Collins in eighth.
The six-man team was completed by Teweldebrhan Menges (17th), Mark Wilkins (28th), Niall Stewart (42nd) and Barry Royden (52nd). Harry Collins (61st), Tristan Hodges (78th), Lee McMeekin (96th), Alun Rodgers (120th), Adrian Moody (130th) and Bob Fursey (141st) completed the 12-to-score team.
The under-13s team finished fourth. First home for the club was Ethan Gear in 11th, followed by Kelechi Ryan in 21st, Joe Hollands 32nd and Cameron Featherstone in 35th.
Featherstone was chased in by Callum Featherstone and Michael Uzozie in 36th and 37th respectively. Finn Rogers (70th) and Ollie Rodwell (84th) also competed. The under-15s finished fifth team overall, with Ben Hughes the club’s top scorer in 15th, closely followed by Bashiri Ryan and Daniel McGlyn in 17th and 18th respectively.
Reece Perkins closed the A team in 27th. Luke Stringer (30th), Jack Childs (36th), Sean Berry (38th) and Alexander Donnelly (39th) completed a strong entry.
The under-13 girls finished with well-deserved bronze team medals. A great run by Isobel Shelley saw her finish fifth, with back-up from Abigail Royden in 15th and Maya Marriner in 21st.
In the under-15 girls, a great run by Charlotte Young in sixth, a strong return by Alexandria Baker-Jones in 12th and Kerry Dewberry (42nd) saw Medway fourth in the team standings.
Only Karrianne Bell contested the under-17 women, finishing in 23rd spot, while Emily Hale was 13th in the under-20 category.
Seven senior women toed the line and finished with a well-deserved third in the six-to-score team and fourth in the three-to-score team.
There were strong runs with Liz Weeks leading the way in eighth, followed by Stephanie Hearn (16th), Jenny Fowler (18th), Kerrie Clarke (31st), Bernadette Harrop (59th), Mo Fazakerley (66th) and Alison Williams (68th).
There was a double success for Medway and Maidstone athletes at last weekend’s under-17 SEAA Championships at Lee Valley.
Medway pupils Ashleigh West and Mayong Tabe both claimed wins in jump events – and both were new under-17 indoor club records.
West, a pupil at Chatham Grammar School for Girls, produced a new personal best of 1.75m to win the high jump.
Rochester Grammar School’s Tabe jumped 5.48m to win the long jump.
Although early in the season, both girls are ranked No.1 in the UK.
They will compete at the London Indoor Games later in the month and hope to challenge for medals at the England indoor championships in Sheffield in February.
Joshua Oshunrinde finished fifth in the 60m with a new personal best of 7.07sec. Maidstone celebrated its 200th parkrun last Saturday – but it was tinged with sadness as it marked the last appearance of organiser Howard Piper. Piper, one of the founding members of the organising team and regular starter, timekeeper and cheerleader, is moving abroad. The run saw another first place for Tom Carpenter in 16min29sec. Kieran McAuliffe, third on Christmas Day, finished second in 18.39, just ahead of Matthew Field, third male but fourth overall, in 18.44. Ellen Crombie (JW15-17) took third place overall and was first lady in 18.43. Abbi Gutsell was second with a personal best of 23.09 and Tracy Dennis came third in 23.50. Crombie’s time gave her a best age-graded rating of 81.75%. There were 383 runners. At Malling, 164 runners took part with Jordan Lockett (SM18-19) first in 18.54. Barry Stewart, a first-time visitor, was second in 19.23 and Stephen Poole finished third in 19.45. For the ladies, Helen Brown produced a PB of 24.25 to take first place, Jette Rich was second in 24.44 and Louise Holden came third in 25.27. Richard Beavington, fourth overall in 19.50, took the agegraded title with 70.92%.