The Harriers acquitted themselves very well in the final Midland Senior league meeting, held at Kettering with another team depleted of numbers especially in the women’s team, to finish a comfortable third place behind Newcastle (staffs) AC & Banbury AC.
One of the highlights of the day was In the sprint events when an unchallenged Erin Healy achieved two strong wins in both the 100m and 200m, running a season’s best time of 26.1 seconds in the latter event. Alex Beale competed in 3 events on the day, winning her 200m race in a time of 26.8 seconds which was just outside of her personal best time. In the long jump, she equalled her best time of 4.81 metres to finish 3rd. Berny Kwei-Tagoe ran as a guest in the B races on the day and achieved a personal best in the 200m of 27.1 seconds. It is anticipated that all 3 athletes will do well at the Midland Championships this weekend in Nuneaton.
Brilliant running from Erin healy to win the 100/200m double with SB performances
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Not to be outdone by her younger team mates, veteran Wilika Carr, also running as a guest in the B races, achieved personal bests in both of her races in times of 14.0 seconds, and 29.4 seconds. All 4 athletes joined forces to blow away the opposition in the 4 x 100m relay, winning the race with ease.
In the men’s events, Emmanuel Mbu secured a creditable 2nd place in both of his races running times of 11.5 seconds and 23.0 seconds respectively. Running in the B races, Achim Loibl equalled his personal best of 11.5 seconds in the 100m to win his race, while Chris Johnson, another veteran athlete, ran 25.3 seconds in the 200m, finishing 2nd. In the 4 x 100m relay, all 3 athletes were joined by multi eventer, Josh Gray, and ran impressive legs to finish 2nd in the race. Josh had also competed in the long jump, where he just missed out on setting a new personal best with a leap of 5.45 metres, and in the shot he threw a distance of 5.80 metres, a personal best with the 7.26k weight shot. Josh will also be competing in the Midland Championships at the weekend, this time in the hurdle events.
Impressive performances from the Harriers Sprint Squad, left to right Chris Johnson, Josh Gray, Erin Healy, Alex Beal, Berny Kwei-Tagoe, Wilika Carr, Achim Loibl & Emmanuel Mbu
In the middle distance events numbers were down, particularly for the women with just one athlete competing in the 3000m, Babs Poncia who ground out a respectable 3rd place in the searing heat. For the men it was a more positive story with Morgan Potter securing 4th place in the A 800m with 2:15.5 & jack Watson finishing in a fine 2nd place in the B stream with 2:10.7. in the 1500m Josh cannel enjoyed another quality race to finish in 2nd place in 4:31.3, with Jack Watson running a good B stream race for 2nd place in 4:49.1. The 3k was a challenging race in the heat, and Edward Cannell ran another fine race with a trademark final 400m for 3rd place in 10:12.4 with Ross Brown setting a fantastic new 25 second PB in the B stream race with 10:32.7.
In the Longer sprints, Dylan Bowley stepping down for some speed work produced a fine run for second place in 54:0, with Tony James running well for a SB performance in the B race in 56:0. Both athletes featured in a superb finale in the men’s 4x400m, which was won by over 100m with a fine run of 3:42 with Josh cannel on the opening leg, suffering with a premature start while preparing for a squat start, handing over in third place to Tony James who immediately opened up a gap with an explosive opening 150m to bring the Harriers home in first place in his leg before handing to Bowley who extended the lead still further with Potter who had plenty in the tank to run a comfortable 53 seconds, taking the anchor leg to win in style from Newcastle (staffs).
One of the most impressive wins of the day for the 4x400m Men's team
Morgan Potter, Dylan Bowley, Tony James & Josh Cannell
The throws squad were kept busy with throws coach Matt Bell in good form in his main event, the hammer securing second place with 42.93m, and also securing fine runner up places in the javelin B (25.19M) & Discus A (26.34m), as well as a third place in the shot with 8.06m. Fellow throws coach Lorna Barlow secured 2nd place in the Discus B (15.74m), 3rd in the Hammer (24.82m) & 6th place in the Javelin & Shot (12.34m & 5.10m respectively). Paula Sinnott was 3rd in the A discus with 16.98, and 4th in the B javelin with 10.86m
Pete Mills had a busy afternoon with a superb win in the men’s high Jump with 1.70m, 2nd places in the Javelin A (34.09m) & 110m high hurdles 24.5, and a third place in the B hammer (24.5m).
Superb win for Pete Mills in the High Jump with 1.70m
The Harriers finish the season in a very respectable third overall, and will look to push for promotion in 2019.
Well done to everyone who turned out on a hot day either to compete or to help out.