Marshall breaks club record on way to bronze
Alex Marshall starred for Medway & Maidstone AC at the South of England Championships.
The event was held over two weekends at the Lee Valley Stadium, giving athletes a chance to test their training in advance of the outdoor season.
Marshall was a first-time competitor at the championships and set a new club record at 200m for the under-20 men’s age group of 22.44sec in his heat. He followed that with a 22.46 semi-final and then went even faster at 22.33 to grab a bronze medal.
In the senior women’s age group, Darcey Kuypers ran a 26.17 heat and a 26.15 final to also win bronze after making the semi-final of the 60m the day before with a best time of 7.86.
There was more medal success in the field, with Mayong Tabe taking silver in the under-17 women’s long jump with a leap of 5.59m after making the semis of the 60m the day before with a best time of 8.23.
Abi Walters was seventh in the under-17 women’s high jump with a best of 1.50 and Jack Royden was fourth in the under-20 men’s shot with a best throw of 13.35, also a PB.
Ben Blake and Ben Townend set new personal bests at 400m in their heats of the under-17 men’s 400m with times of 53.6 and 53.8 respectively, with Ben Blake also running a semi-final in 54.12.
Running at 200m were Michael Watson (senior men), posting a 23.18 heat and a 23.39 semi-final, Harry Osborne (under-17 men, 23.47 heat, 23.81 semi-final), Nathan Isaac (under-20 men, 23.55 heat, 23.91 semi-final), Zara Edeleanu (under-17 women, 28.19 heat, 28.02 semi-final), Michelle Yalekhue (under-15 girls, 28.26 heat PB, 28.85 semi-final) and Lucy Hope (under-20 women, 27.69 heat).
M& M’s George Blake took part in the England Athletics Under-20/ Senior Combined Events Championships in Sheffield, finishing 18th.
He compiled a points total of 3,666 over the two days.
More than 400 runners turned out for Maidstone’s parkrun on Saturday when Tom Carpenter repeated his performance of two weeks ago by leading the field to the finish in 18min01sec.
He was followed by Ryan Donoghue in 18.54 and Duncan Moon in 19.19.
Charlotte Bates, first lady two weeks ago, led them home again, this time finishing in 19.33. Hannah Peel (Sheffield Tri Club), on her first visit to Maidstone, finished second in 20.06 with the previous week’s winner, Tanya Stelfox, coming third in a PB of 20.48.
The best age-graded performer was Janice Moorekite (VW60- 64) with 75.88% for 25.13, just pipping Bates who recorded 75.70%.
Tom Collins was top of the pile in Malling, finishing well clear of the rest in 17.05.
Justin Lane, the leader two weeks ago, took second place this time in a PB of 18.24 with third-placed Oliver Goldsmith also running a PB of 18.41.
Nicola Morris was first lady in 22.19 with the leader from three weeks ago, Lucy Tomlinson, second in 24.01. She was followed by Emma Longley – second two weeks ago – in 24.34.
Trevor Wignall was the best age-graded performer with 77.35% for seventh in 20.23 out of 221 finishers.