We are delighted to announce that Kettering’s Alice Bennett has been selected to represent England at the Commonwealth Youth Games In Trinidad & Tobago between 04-09th of August. Bennett will compete in the 800m after setting a Commonwealth Qualification time on 07th June at the BMC Gold Standard at Birmingham University track, which also broke the Kettering U20 Women’s Club record. She impressed the selectors with her consistent times in her opening x4 races, and her consistency over the past 2 years, and she wins her first Full International Vest.
Alice Bennett on route to setting her Commonwealth Qualifer and new U20 800m Club Record of 2:07.20
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Bennett will join the England athletics team consisting of 27 athletes who will be competing in the impressive 23,000 capacity Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad. Competing against the very best athletes from the 56 member states of the commonwealth between the 7-9th August.
17 year old Bennett has started the season well and the commonwealth games were her main target at the start of the season so she was absolutely delighted with the news. “I’m so excited for my first international race. It’s going to be a great experience for me travelling with the team and meeting new people. I’m especially looking forward to racing competitors from different countries who I have never raced before".
Alice Bennett has been in superb form this season over her specialist 800m distance
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This International vest is testament to the hard work Bennett has put in over many years and her long-time Coach at Kettering Shane Smith was equally delighted with the news “ Alice is a super talented athlete and she works hard throughout the year all weather rarely missing a session, this is just reward for her dedication. She had a tough break not being selected for the GB U18 Juniors in early summer in 2022 despite having the qualification time and European ranking. She shrugged this off and got back to training and won a Silver medal at the season’s finale at the UK School Games in September, a sign of her resilience and committment which will take her far in the sport”.
Kettering Town Harriers have a proud record in producing athletes who compete on the National & International stage and Bennet joins fellow club colleagues and training partners Alice Bates & Emily Williams in representing her Country at a full International. With a thriving squad of middle Distance athletes this news will help inspire the younger members of the squad in the belief that with the right mind-set and consistent hard work great things can be achieved.
We wish Alice the very best of luck in her first Full International