It’s been a busy few weeks for the Middle Distance squad with a number of outstanding performances over the past week:
Kettering Floodlit Open
U11 Jemima Davey produced a stunning performance at the Kettering Floodlit open to break her own 600m club record for the third time, setting a new 3 second PB with 1:47.69 to move to UK number 3 over the distance. Jemima had enjoyed an outstanding season as an U11, she is also ranked UK number 1 at 1500m (5:11.94) & UK number 3 with the 800m (2:37.2) and has also smashed club records in these events.
UK No 3 for Jemima Davey & a new club record for 600m with 1:47.69
Also setting a PB in the 600m was new squad member George Sharpe who hot on the heels of his KTH debut race two days earlier in the Heart of England which saw his set an impressive time of 1:53.4, ran a superb race to set a new PB of 1:51.56.
In the 800m, there were new PB’s for bottom year U13 Magdelena Gancheva with an impressive 5 second improvement with 2:39.05, U15 Luke Cole smashed his PB by an amazing 12 seconds to record 2:14.73, in the same race U15 Rio Carr sliced two seconds from his best with 2:18.88, and in the 1500m U15 George Separovic sliced 6 seconds from his best and close in on the 5:00 minute barrier with 5:02.22.
U13 Jacob Asher-Relf produced a performance of extraordinary quality to move to UK number 2 in the 800m rankings. Making his Watford open debut he got a terrible start finding himself at the very back of the 12 athlete race, putting in a terrific burst of pace he moved from last to first by the 200m mark and continued to surge ahead of the pack leading to the bell which he received at 62.5 seconds. Jacob continued to push on at an incredible pace and only with 40m to go to the line did he pay for the uneven nature of the race where his legs turned to rubber, despite this he battled through to slice 3 seconds from his best and record a time of 2:09.44 to move to 12th on the UK all time list.
Jacob Asher-Relf stunning time in the 800 to go 12th on the UK all time list
In the 400m, a strong event for the squad, there were a number of PB’s set at the Kettering floodlit open, Emily Williams looking for a sharpener before English Schools set a PB of 58.35, Dylan Bowley sliced over 1.5 seconds from his best with a fast 52.25, and Josh Cannell continues his fine form with a rare outing over the distance with 56.25. At the Watford Open Josh Geddes made best advantage of the fast track with a time of 54.95.
NAA County 3k Championships
There were some impressive performances and three age group Gold medalists at the Northants 3000m championships held at the Corby open meeting. Ideal conditions on the night also saw all athletes competing setting new PB’s.
Performance of the night went to U15 Alice Bates who won the women’s race and the U15 Gold in only her 2nd ever 3000m, slicing 30 seconds from her PB and moving to 13th in the UK rankings with a time of 10:41.0. Bates ran a great race sitting in for the first 2 laps and then gradually increasing the pace and open a gap on her competitors, she looked strong over the final 600m and on this evidence she undoubtedly improve her time with more experience over the distance. Bates now holds x4 County titles (3000m, 1500m, and both the NAA & County Schools cross country) and is settling in well in her first year with the Harriers.
Alice Bates won 4th county title over 3000m to go 12th in the UK
There were two other gold medallists on the night, with Luke Cole making his debut over the distance winning the U15 boys race with a terrific time of 9:46.9 to move to a UK ranking of 36th . Josh Cannell also bagged a Gold in the U20 men’s contest setting an impressive 50 second PB with 9:30.5, and older brother Edward Cannell also picked up a Silver medal in the senior men’s race with a new PB of 9:42.9 with Vet to Stephen Thompson also bagging a silver in the vets category and also setting a new lifetime best of 10:07.5.
Some of the County 3k medalists left to right, Josh Cannell, Edward Cannell, and Alice Bates
Also setting new PB’s were U20 Emily Williams in a rare outing over the distance she just missed a sub 10:00 clocking competing in the men’s race but clocked a 30 second PB with 10:00.9, and U17 Josh Clutton also set a new PB with 9:59.4.
the squad still have a number of opportunities to cap their season with a fast time over the coming few weeks.
Well done to everyone