Five aided by Natasha fund
THE first five athletes from Team Bath AC to be awarded grants from the Natasha Lewis Foundation have been revealed.
Alice Wilson, Harry Meredith, Freya Spruit, Justin Davies and Sam Walker will all receive assistance from the fund which has been launched to help young athletes from Team Bath AC fulfil their potential.
In an official statement announcing the decision the club stated: “These athletes share many of Tash’s qualities - a love for their sport, determination, dedication, support and encouragement of their team mates.’
The foundation was launched in memory of Natasha, who so tragically died after being hit by a car while out on a morning training run in April.
The money raised at the time of her passing and in fundraising since has also been supplemented by the proceeds from the first Natasha Lewis Foundation half marathon held on the Odd Down cycle race circuit on Sunday.
The Foundation is also providing wider support to Team Bath AC, which is a charity, with a view to benefiting all athletes.
“Words can’t describe how honoured, grateful and excited we are to be part of creating a fitting legacy for the remarkable Natasha,” said the club.
“Thank you to Dave, Tash’s fiance, her family and the rest of the NLF team.”
Multi-eventer Wilson, who is coached by Julie Alexander, is one of the most talented athletes in the club and the teenager won a silver medal at the England Indoor Championships last year.
Rising middle distance star Justin Davies (coach Martin Rush) won silver in the 1500m at the English Schools this summer while Harry Meredith (Colin Baross) is a real talent at 400m hurdles.
Sam Walker (Roy Hayward) is developing into one of the finest javelin throwers in the West Country and middle/long distance runner Freya Spruit, like Davies, is a former winner of the Chron/running Bath performance of the month competition.
For further information on the Foundation go to @getfitinbath.
■ AS for the inaugural Natasha Lewis
Foundation half marathon, that was fittingly won by club athlete Dan Jones in a time of just over 74 minutes.
Official results have yet to be confirmed but Jones, who is preparing for the London Marathon on Sunday, October 3, won quite comfortably over the 14-lap course that eventually measured at 21.85k, longer than the standard 21.09k.
“I think Dan’s time would have been in the 73 minutes for the half but to be honest it didn’t really matter because it was all about the occasion,” said club endurance coach Paul King, who advises Jones among many others in the club.
“It is great to see Dan back and his training has been fantastic recently.”
It appears that clubmates Aaron Pritchard and Tom Dudden finished second and third respectively but there are no details about the first woman.
It should also be mentioned that King also took part, racing for the first time since a hip operation and did well to finish just inside two hours.
“I had a bet with Dan and Aaron as to how many times they would lap me and I think Dan made it five or six,” added King.
■ ELSEWHERE, Matt Wells finished 16th overall and fourth veteran over40 in the Cheltenham half marathon, clocking a time of 76mins 23secs.
■ The athletics coverage in the Chron is sponsored by Running Bath.