Hughes raises the bar for perfect 10
YOUNGSTER ADDS INDIVIDUAL GOLD TO TEAM SILVER ON WEEKEND TO REMEMBER Athletics
It proved to be a memorable weekend for Medway & Maidstone AC runner Ben Hughes.
He helped the club win silver at the South East Schools Championships on Saturday and followed it up with an impressive win at the Ashford & District 10k on Sunday.
The team silver medal came in the under-17 section at the Newbury Showground, with Hughes producing an excellent fourth-place finish.
There was also a strong run by Hamish Reilly, finishing 16th. Also representing Kent and running well were Daniel McGlynn (53rd) and Luke Stringer (77th).
In the under-15 boys’ event, there were good placings by Ethan Gear (34th) and Cameron Featherstone (81st), with finishes in the under-15 girls for Isobel Shelley (24th), Anna Palmer (31st), Annabelle Young (79th) and Martha Tatnell (83rd).
Hughes followed up his impressive showing at Newbury with victory at the Ashford & District 10k, winning in an excellent time of 33.07.
Hughes, who turned 16 last week, has only run two 10k races previously and he knocked over three minutes off his previous best.
The race had 567 finishers. Ed Bovington, of Istead & Ifield Harriers, came in a close second, also with a personal best time of 33.11.
Neill Wright, of M& M, had his best 10k race to date, finishing 16th (fifth, M40) and knocking over a minute off his previous best for the distance. Bob Fursey (M55) also had a good run, finishing 57th in 42.59.
Medway & Maidstone AC had five runners out for the final race of the season in the Kent Fitness Cross-country League at Blean Woods.
There were a total of 329 finishers and Alun Rodgers (M50) was the first runner home for Medway in 39th place, his best placing since the 2010/2011 season.
Rodgers also claimed a creditable ninth overall M50 position for the season. He was followed by Ivan Whitmore (M65) in 197th, Steve Russell 249th and Nigel Read 279th. Kat Ford was the only woman runner representing Medway, finishing in 280th place (75th woman).