The return of the Northants County Track and Field Championships to Corby, after a three year break in Leicester, was a great success, as Kettering Town Harriers achieved success over the full range of age groups and in many different disciplines.
KTH athletes won a fantastic total of 35 gold medals, a big increase on last year, and there were also Club Records and a Championship Best Performance to celebrate.
Leading the way was Under 11 Tabatha Walford, who won five gold medals – every track event for her age group! Her 14.7 in the 100m equalled Alice Chapman’s Club Record and 31.5 in the 200m was a new club best. Tabatha also took the 800m and 1500m, along with the 1K walk for good measure!
Ashley McClintock and Niamh Bailey both took home a trio of gold medals. Ash won the Senior 200m and 400m, as well as the Long Jump, whilst Niamh triumphed in the Under 17 300m, the High Jump and the 100m.
In the 100m Niamh pipped Alice Chapman by the narrowest of margins, but there was consolation for Alice as she took the 200m.
There were two superb performances by Under 20 Men that smashed Club Records. Yannick Phippen ran 11.1 in the 100m, not only to win gold but also defeating Alex Brooks’ record. And Jamie Dean improved his own 110m Hurdles best with an excellent run in 16.5.
Kettering’s traditional strength in the endurance events brought a veritable gold rush. Matt Stewart ran well-judged races to take both the Under 17 400m and 800m, whilst Maisie Green was particularly impressive as she took the Under 13 800m and 1500m in fast times.
Also winning two golds was Jonathan Goringe in the Under 20 2000m Steeplechase and 1500m and Gemma Elliott was victorious in the Senior 400m.
Again, there was a stunning performance from Edward Cherry as he knocked another 3 seconds off his 800m PB, winning in 2.09 in atrocious conditions. Fran Ashworth was a class apart in the equivalent girls race, as was Josh Cara in the Under 13 1500m.
Sophie Munn rolled back the years as she clinched the Under 20 800m with a strong finish and Andrew Clawson took a break from his duties as starter to win the Veterans 1500m.
There were top performances from Sian Edwards who set a new Championship Best in the Senior 5000m (brother David won the Under 20 version of the same race) and Charlotte Redden, whose victory in the Under 15 200m earned her the Walkers Crisps Trophy.
Other golds were won in the field by Aidan Bailey (Under 20 Javelin), Paul Marlow (Veteran Long Jump), Violet Bedwell-Clayton (Under 13 Discus) and Sophia Smith (Under 13 High Jump).
There were numerous other fine medal-winning efforts by Harriers athletes. The full results can be found on the Corby AC website.