Kentish Express Ashford & District
Harris leads medal haul
Athletics
Matt Harris was Ashford AC’s standout senior performer in the two-day Kent Athletics C h a mpi o n s h i p s at the Julie Rose Stadium. Ten golds, 22 silvers and 16 bronze medals were the reward for the host club, together with 30 personal best performances across the age groups and disciplines. Harris dominated the field events, with a gold in the javelin and silvers in pole vault, shot and discus – his 42.89m in the latter setting a new personal best and being close to the club record. George Huxley and Lewis Smith won silver and bronze respectively in the 400m, with Smith’s 51.64sec a new best time. He won another bronze in the triple jump. Peter Davey, back from a trip to the World Masters Championships in New Zealand, won silver in the 110m hurdles. Ashley Buckman claimed silvers in the long jump and triple jump, Matt Smiley’s 1.80m earned him the same in the high jump, while father and son walkers, Chris and Jonathan Hobbs took silver and bronze in the 3,000m walk – son beating father. Olympian Jack Green set a new best time in the senior 400m hurdles The former Ashford AC youngster, now running for Kent AC, clocked 49.54, inside the qualifying time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. Veteran Lesley Hall won 3,000m walk gold and Rebecca Cock claimed silvers in the shot (6.70m PB) and discus.
Hannah Owen claimed three silver medals, in the senior hammer and under-20 hammer and shot.
In the under-20s, Marshall Smith claimed 3,000m walk gold on Sunday, following his bronze in the 1,500m the previous day.
Alex Hardy and Kian Crawford won golds in the pole vault and hammer respectively.
Talented multi-eventer Tyler Adams, won the high jump with a PB of 1.85m and took silver in the javelin.
Cameron Amedee ran a new outdoor best of 51.69 to win bronze in the 400m.
Samuel Dawson-Dale set a new PB of 5.15m to land fourth in the long jump.
Emilia Isaac won bronze in the 400m hurdles in a PB of 71.04, followed home by Alexandra Prickett, who just missed out on improving her best time. Emilie Knights-Toomer won silver in the javelin, while Jacqueline Benson took silver in the hammer (28.20m) and bronze in the 3,000m walk.
In the under-17s, Matthew Elliott shrugged off illness to win silver in the 200m. It made up for him being disqualified in the 100m – clocking a PB of 22.91 in the heats – only to fall ill between races.
He recovered to take his place, running the bend well, a strong wind producing slower times in the final.
Christopher Scrivens justified his favourite tag to win the hammer with a PB of 47.47m. He also won bronze in the shot and was fourth in the discus.
Alfie Gilby took silver in the pole vault with a PB of 3.35m.
Three Ashford youngsters Oliver Prior, Adam Wood and Thomas Wilton lined up in the 1,500m final, all posting personal bests, despite missing out on the medals.
Multi-eventer Jade Curtis won bronze in the high jump, while Yetunde Mongo returned to action with bronze in the 100m.
Amberley Odysseas ran personal bests, to win bronze in the 1,500m (5:23.24), and finish fifth in the 300m (45.52).
In the under-15s, newcomer Kristian Samwell-Nash won silver in the 300m, while Spike Purdie was fourth in the long jump with a PB leap of 5.17m.
Briony Walsh’s decision to increase her training schedule paid off with gold in the senior women’s 800m and bronze in the 400m with a PB of 60.39.
Debbie Martin and Katie Hamilton won gold and bronze in the high jump respectively. Another multi-event prospect Sarris Teale won three medals including gold in the triple jump, in only her second appearance in the event.
Ella Saxby reached the 300m final but missed out on the medals.