Kentish Express Ashford & District
Silver medallist makes his mark
Athletics
Ashford Athletics Club had three members representing Kent at the English Schools Championships in Birmingham.
Kristian SamwellNash, 14, from Headcorn, competed in the junior boys’ 300m in his first major championship.
He ran the quickest time out of the three heats in a personal best time and under-15 club record of 36.16sec.
This was also the fastest time in the UK for 2017 before the final and the fourth time he has broken the under-15 club record this year.
He then went on to win the silver medal in the final in a time of 36.18.
The time has moved him to second in the UK rankings and 14th fastest of all-time.
Grace Sullivan competed in the senior girls’ triple jump.
This is the second time she has competed at the English Schools Championships, the largest track and field event in Europe.
She jumped 11.02m and took 14th place.
Oliver Prior also competed, having raced in the English Schools Cross -Country Championships earlier this year.
He ran in the intermediate boys’ 3,000m and took 20th place in 9.05.30, his second quickest time of the year.
Chris Valdus produced an excellent performance to win the Cranbrook 10k on Sunday.
Racing humid conditions, on a challenging off-road hilly course, Ashford & District RRC V40 man Valdus held off the challenge of Simon Dahdi (Petts Wood Runners) to finish in 38.49.
Clubmate Hazel Turner was 33rd and third lady home in a time of 48.13, with Becky Hodgson finishing in 1.10.55.
Elodie Paviot completed a personal best in the Harry Hawkes 10 mile on Sunday.
Run over a fast, flat and scenic course around Thames Ditton and Kingston, Paviot finished 307th out of 640 finishers in 1:25.40 – 75th lady.
Helen Weeden completed her 40th marathon in the Ranscombe Ramble Challenge at Cuxton near Rochester, completing the hilly course in 6:24.33. in