One of the warmest days of the year and, perhaps, "the Olympic effect" attracted record numbers of competitors to the Kettering Town Harriers Open Meeting.
Over 250 athletes, more than have ever taken part since we resumed holding open meetings four years ago, descended on the KLV track. Particularly noticeable were good numbers of senior athletes, strong turnouts from several clubs across the Midlands and a smattering of "unattached" entrants, some of whom were returning to the sport; others were running on the track for the first time.
As far as Kettering were concerned, at least half a dozen club records fell. In ideal conditions for sprinting, Jack Reed knocked 0.1 of a second off the long-standing Under 13 Boys 200m record (27.3) and, for good measure, shaved a similar amount off his own 100m mark (12.8). Erin Healy added the Under 11 Girls 75m record to her collection (11.1), whilst Lewis-Morgan Barton equalled the equivalent Boys record with an 11.0 clocking.
Also amongst the Under 11s, Dylan Bowley achieved his aim of lowering the 600m record (1.55.3). Niamh Bailey broke her own Junior Ladies 100m best with an impressive 12.2.
Great thanks are due to our teams of officials, many of whom worked for over four hours in the heat, without a break, as the scheduled gaps in the programme disappeared due to the large numbers.
Provisional results can be found here
Photos of the action can be purchased via an external website: http://www.dephoto.biz/ketteringharriers