As part the ongoing success story for the Kettering Town Harriers and the talented athletes and coaches, there are a number of Harriers who have been nominated for sports awards at the Kettering & Northampton Sports Awards.
14 year old Emily Williams who has enjoyed a magnificent year which has seen her win two National Championships, the English Schools Cross Country Championships in March, & just last week the National Road relays where she won the Gold medal for setting the fastest lap. The middle distance athlete won her first England call up representing her country at an International cross country fixture where she won a team Gold & she also enjoyed a superb track season which also saw her win a Silver medal at English schools 800m finals, and she is ranked 2/3rd in the UK at 1500m/ 800m respectively.
Emily is nominated for two awards, Young Sports Woman of the year at both the Kettering & Northampton sports awards, and was nominated for the Northampton sports awards by her school, Northampton School for Girls.
13 year old Dylan Bowley also from the middle distance squad is nominated for the Young Sportsman category at the Kettering Sports awards. He enjoyed a superb year which also saw him crowned a Champion at the National Road Relays, win gold at the Midland County Road relays, secure silver medals at Midland County Championships on XC & Track, and finishing 4th in the prestigious UK Cross challenge championship. Dylan also broke the 25 year old club record for 1500m on two occasions.
Also making the awards short list for the Kettering Sports Awards on 27th October are two of the Harriers talented coaches, both nominated for Coach of the year. Ann Innis who has enjoyed considerable success in her first year as heading the sprint squad, bringing through a number of hugely talented youngsters, and coaching her first athlete to the English Schools track finals.
Also nominated is head endurance coach Shane Smith, coach of Emily Williams & Dylan Bowley who has also enjoyed a superb season with the Middle Distance squad, winning record number of medals at county Championships both on track & cross Country, and he coached two athletes to the English Schools track finals.
Both coaches, who shun the limelight, are very happy to have been nominated, but prefer to let their athletes do the talking with their performances. Ann who is still very new to coaching said “My main aim when coaching the athletes is to see them perform to their full potential and be as passionate about sprinting as I am”. Shane who has previously scooped the Kettering Sports Award said “It’s great for the club that the hard working coaches are being recognised, it gives confidence to anyone thinking of coming to Kettering that they will coached well, and they can steadily develop as an athlete in a fun environment”.
We wish the best of luck to all the Harriers nominated on what is set to be an exciting evening for the club.