Harriers Updates

KTH Midland Counties Championships & August Open Meeting

Sprint squad

The final open meeting of the season brought the curtain down on an exciting season for the sprint squad athletes. With many international sprinters choosing to compete at the Kettering Open’s throughout the season, athletes have been inspired to work hard to strive to reach that level of competition. Most of the internationals who have competed at the open meetings went on to compete at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and European Championships, including medalists. One notable performance on the day came from U23 international, Amy Hunt of Charnwood, who was competing in her first outdoor race of the season following picking up an injury on the indoor circuit. Competing in the 200m, and drawn in lane 5, she ran a strong race to finish 4th in a time of 23.45 seconds, making a welcome return to competing.

The U11 athletes competed in the 75m and 150m on the day. Jackson Ahmadu won both of his races in personal bests of 11.17 seconds and 22.94 seconds respectively. Darci Cleaver finished in 2nd place behind Jackson in the 75m in a personal best of 12.05 seconds, and followed that up with a win in her 150m in 24.28 seconds, just outside her personal best. Macy Warboys also ran a personal best in the 150m, finishing 3rd in Darci’s heat in a time of 28.39 seconds.

The performance of the day from the squad came from U20 athlete, Ryan Amesimeku, in the 200m. Drawn in lane 8, he had a good start and ran a strong bend to transition well into the home straight to finish 3rd in a personal best of 23.13 seconds. The race was won by Kacper Matysiak of Tipton Harriers, who also ran a personal best of 21.82 seconds. In his 100m race, Ryan, once again ran a strong race to finish in 4th place in a time of 11.29 seconds. That capped off his 3rd season of competing, that has seen him win all of his Midland League races, and become County Champion over both distances. Injury and family commitments prevented him from competing at the English Schools Championships and England Championships this season, despite achieving the qualifying times, but his performances this season have been commendable.

Ryan Amesimeku- capped off the season with another 200m PB

U17 athlete, Harriet Cleaver, had her season hampered after sustaining an injury in an indoor race at the City of Birmingham Games in February when finishing her 60m race. Her performances to close the season saw her run season bests in the 100m and 200m, clocking 13.26 seconds and 27.22 seconds respectively. She will now move up to the U20 age group next season.

Holly Abbott, U20, set a new personal best of 28.83 seconds in her 200m race, which she ran with a strong finish. Her brother Jack, also in the U20 age group, set a season’s best of 12.37 seconds in his 100m race. Also running a season’s best was veteran athlete, Wilika Carr, who posted a time of 14.42 seconds in her 100m race.

Multi eventer, Aidan Hooks, set a new personal best of 14.17 seconds in his 100m race to finish 3rd, and followed that up with a time of 29.86 in the 200m, in which he finished 2nd.

Aidan Hooks - great performance in the quadrathon, and new 100m PB

The previous weekend he had competed in the Midland U13 Championships U13 Boys Quadrathon in Nuneaton. He finished equal 4th overall, having competed in the 100m, long jump, howler, and 600m. Also competing in the Quadrathon, was U13 Girl, Lucie Cleaver. The events were all the same as Aidan had to do, apart from the 600m, with the girls having to run an 800m race. The girls’ results, however, are still to be released.

Elizabeth Reading, U17, just missed out on a medal in the Midland Championships 200m final. Finishing 4th in a time of 27.20 seconds, behind Precious Akpe-Moses of Birchfield Harriers. In the 100m, she was forced to pull out of the final due to a blistered foot. Also competing in the championships but unfortunately not progressing to the finals, were Harriet & Culley Cleaver, Sonal Rathod, & Ellie Warboys. Ellie did, however, also compete in the high jump, in which she finished 4th with a jump of 1.45m.

The squad will shortly have a well earned break from training before starting winter training.

Middle Distance

The final KTH T&F open for the squad in what has been a long season saw a few outstanding performances. UK U17 indoor 800m champion & English Schools Bronze medalist Alice Bennett ran a brilliant 600m in preparation for the UK Schools Games in 2 weeks. Bennett front ran the race with no competiton and ran the 2nd fastest time in the UK for U17 with 1:34.79 in this rarely ran event, and she will take some confidence into her first 800m race since English schools at the Loughborough GP in a weeks time.

Alice Bennett with a fine 600m sharpener in preparation for the UK School Games

Other performances which caught the eye was a fine run & new PB for U15 Chelsie Locker in the 1k race, Locker who was looking to improver her time to make the 'A' race at the Polish Championships in mid-September and must now wait until the seeding is announced but her time should see her make the 'A' race and secure funding for the year from the Polish athletics federation. Bottom year U15 Zachary Scot also ran well in the 1500m with a new PB of 4:53.40 to win his heat.

Midland Counties Champinships

There was just a single participant in the Midland Counties Championshisp with Dylan White, who appears to have settled in his main event over 400m, winning a superb Bronze medal in the U17M 400m final. White ran his second fastest time of the season with 53.45 to secure a fine podium finish.

Dylan White Bronze medal in the U17M 400m

Well done to everyone who ran.

Beat the Sunset 5k

Another great showing from the Road Runners representing Kettering Town Harriers at the beat the Sunset 5k, held at West Lodge rural centre, Desborough which saw a strong performance from Fynn Batkin who took took 1st place with a fabulous time of 14.57.

Also running well was Jack Chennell who finished in 5th place in 15.57, followed strongly by Domenic Specchio finishing in 12th with a time of 17.15. U15 Dylan Ransom finished in a new PB of 18.46 for 27th place (8th U20) & Steve Green in 30th position in a time of 18.53 taking prize for the 1st V55 catagory.

Jack Chennell fine run for 5th place

U15 Zachary Scott also ran a terrific new PB to finish in 31st with18.56, followed by the evergreen Bruce Whitehead in 32nd in 18.57 and taking 1st award in V60 catagory.

Sam Manser ran well for 39th in 19.19 with Bill Robinson 46th in 20.13 & 4th V55. U13 Harry Ambery ran brilliantly for 49th place in a new PB of 20.35. Mark Brockway was 61st in 21.59 and finally long standing club member Terry Coleman came in at a commendable 29.42 to win the V75 catagory.

Terry Coleman terrific run to win the V75 race