Kentish Express Ashford & District
Indoor squad land nine golds
Ashford AC
Ashford AC finished off a great indoor season at the Kent County Indoor Championships at the Lee Valley Arena, north London, over the weekend. A smaller than normal squad of 17 athletes came home with a haul of 21 medals which included a record nine golds and an unprecedented 22 personal bests.
A number of the club’s athletes this year decided to enter more than one event and the gamble paid off with many winning multiple medals.
The haul was led by under15 girls’ heptathlete Libby Turbutt who won three gold medals – the triple jump with a championship and club record of 10.83m, the long jump (5.03m) and a convincing win in the 200m (26min 70sec).
The men were led by England No.2 Kristian Samwell-Nash who completed the ‘doubledouble’ by again winning gold in the under-17 men’s 200m and 400m. Even though this was only his second indoor season, the 200m final was his 100th competitive race and he celebrated by smashing the Kent Championship record, winning in 22.25.
Sarris Teale, now competing in the competitive under-17 women’s section, was also in good form. She won silver in the 60m hurdles (9.15), silver in the long jump (5.19m) and bronze in the triple jump (10.71m). Imogen Davis, also an under-17, won bronze in the long jump (5.09m).
It wasn’t all about the youngsters, with Katie Hamilton winning the senior women’s high jump with 1.50m. One of the biggest smiles of the day was with under15 newcomer Jack Saxby competing in his first championships. After a mature run in his heat he easily qualified for the final and won a bronze medal.
Under-15 Jack Butler won a gold medal in the high jump, equalling his PB of 1.65m.
The older boys continued the success with Michael Alajiki running a PB of 8.89 to win silver in the under-17 60m hurdles. Pole vaulter Luke Williams won a silver with a clearance of 3.70m
Ashford AC’s under-20 long distance road and cross-country runners decided that they also wanted a piece of the track action, with Harrison Tremain winning a gold medal in the 1,500m (4:11.96). He was hotly pursued by top long-distance runner Marshall Smith, who won silver in (4.12.68). Smith also won a bronze medal in the 800m.
His older brother and senior athlete, Lewis Smith, underlined the club’s performances by winning three senior men’s medals. He won a full set, taking home bronze in the 200m (23.05), silver in the triple jump (12.99m) and gold in the long jump (6.67m).