There were some terrific late season performances from two of the Middle Distance squad in the Midland Counties Championships who both secured fine Silver Medals, and in the process set new PB’s & Club Records.
Dylan Bowley, whose season was cruelly interrupted with an injury just before English Schools, has finally worked his way back into PB form and he lined up in the U15 boys 1500m on the Saturday at the Pringles Stadium in Nuneaton. Dylan got off to a great start settling in behind favourite, Liam Rawlings from Oswestry, a position he maintained throughout the race. Starting off at a slightly steadier pace to conserve his finish, Bowley needn’t of worried as he produced an outstanding performance with a strong final lap where he gained on the leader all the way to the finish, recording a fine new PB and breaking his existing club record by over 3 seconds with 4:14.17 to win a superb Silver medal which takes him to 16th in the UK National rankings. Bowley now eyes up the U15boys 2012 3,000m club record, help by squad colleague Jack Hope, his first ever track 3k at his favourite venue at Watford to close his track season.
Dylan Bowley strong finish to the season with a Silver Medal & New Club Record
The other silver medal was won by Fynn Batkin with a fine performance in the U17 men’s 3,000m to follow up on the Regional Championship bronze he secured earlier in the season at the Mason trophy. The race went off at a fast pace from the go, and Batkin sat in on the leading pack for the first 2km, where he then challenged for the lead, stretching the race with two laps to go. Batkin managed to open up a decent gap with 200m to go and it was only a concerted effort from Notts AC’s Milan Campion who managed to get on level terms in the home straight and it was an all-out sprint to the line and Batkin was just unable to hold off the late challenge. He was compensated with a fine new PB of 8:50.78, breaking the club record held previously by squad colleague Josh Cara by 2 seconds.
Fynn Batkin Silver Medal & New Club Record in the U17 3k
Elsewhere there were 8 members of the sprint squad also competing at Midland Championships, the majority for the first time.
Cynthia Ike, who joined the squad late last season and only competed twice that year, showed her much improved form finishing in 3rd in the final of the U15 girls 200m. Having won her heat in a personal best time of 26.07 seconds, she then went on to also win her semi-final in a time of 26.26 seconds. Her lack of experience showed in the final, but she managed to hold off her opposition to secure a fine bronze medal, her first at a regional area Championship. Her coach, Ann Inniss-Haycox, said "Cynthia's progress this season has been outstanding. She has a bright future in the sport without a doubt. Her bronze medal is very well deserved."
Cynthia Ike first medal at a Regional Area Championship
Meanwhile seasoned athlete, Erin Healy, lowered her personal best to 25.39 in the U17 girls 200m final to finish 4th, to beat the club record that had stood since 2008. Earlier in the day she had finished 2nd in her heat, equalling her previous personal best in a time of 25.77 seconds. On the second day of the meeting, she competed in the 100m and finished 6th in the final in a time of 12.67 seconds. This followed a time of 12.57 seconds in the heat. Both athletes will now go on to compete in the National Championships at Bedford over the bank holiday weekend.
Personal bests were also recorded by Dylan Mukhtar, 11.74 seconds in the U17 boys 100m, Alex Beale, 27.21 seconds in the U17 girls 200m, Annabelle Clotworthy, 27.39 seconds in the U17 girls 200m, Kira Lear, 13.31 seconds in the U17 girls 100m, and Rhianna Parris-Smith, 13.54 seconds in the U17 girls 100m.
Multi eventer, Matilda Brathwaite, competed in 3 events in the U15 girls age group over the weekend - 200m, high jump, and discus. The discus proved to be her best event on this occasion, finishing 6th with a throw of 21.42 metres. She remains ranked within the top 10 in this event in the East Midlands.