Jumper Debbie raising the bar

ASHFORD athletes swept to a big haul of medals in the Kent Championships at the Julie Rose Stadium.

High jumper Debbie Martin set a championship best 1.70m to win the under20 gold, equalling her personal best.

The club hailed five double gold champions in Rachel Hanagan, Ellie Gooding, Rhiannon Wallwork, Hannah Owen and Alex Lynch.

Hanagan won the senior women’s triple jump with 11.78m and edged the long jump in the close battle with Blackheath’s Lauren Blackie, jumping 5.27m.

Pole vaulter Gooding cleared 3.40m to see off the under-17 field and she also clocked 12.05 seconds to take gold in the 80m hurdles.

Wallwork, an outstanding all-rounder, won under-17 golds in the triple jump (11.00m) and long jump (5.25m).

In the under-15 girls, Hannah Owen won the hammer with a throw of 27.01m throw and she added the shot with 9.25m.

Emilie Knights Toomer threw 29.32m to win under-15 javelin gold.

In the under-17 men’s category, Alex Lynch won gold in the discus (33.96m) and the hammer (51.05m).

Ashford newcomer Laura- Ann Henderson won the under-20 women’s pole vault with a leap of 2.80m.

Also in the pole vault, Alex Hardy (2.90m) won the under-15 boys’ gold.

Veteran Pete Davey clocked 16.47 seconds to claim gold in the 110m hurdles and high jumper Katherine Hamilton won the senior women’s event with a jump of 1.45m.

Brothers Jonathan and Chris Hobbs took the top two places in the 3000m walk, clocking 14.42.36 and 15.14.98 respectively.

Elsewhere in the senior men’s class, Warren Uden took gold for Ashford in the 3000m steeplechase.

Away from the Ashford contingent, six other championship bests were recorded. Medway and Maidstone’s Cameron Corbishley set a new mark in the 3000m under-17 walk as did Cambridge race walker Heather Butcher also in the walks.

Jessica Jones, meanwhile, set a new best time in the 1500m steeplechase. LEVEL BEST: Katherine Hamilton took gold in the women’s senior high jump

Fm2612505(right), FM2612597 Right: Rhiannon Wallwork, the under-17 women’s triple jump champion and, below, Hannah Owen in the under-15 girls’ long jump

FM2612636 JUMP TO IT: Pete Davey on his way to victory in the men’s 110m hurdles

FM2612436 SILVER RUN: Gary Carr was runner-up in the men’s 100m