The remarkable Watford AC phenomenon in being able to consistently produce fast times & PB performances from the Middle distance squad continued with the latest meeting with 400m & 800m races. In a wonderful night of racing for 5 of the squad the undoubted highlight was the remarkably consistent “Dynamo Dylan Bowley” who again produced a superb 800m race to cap an outstanding track season which resulted in him breaking his own 3 month old club record and set a time which moves him to 7th in the UK rankings for his least preferred event with a 2 second PB on 2:14.99.
Dylan has produced one of the most remarkably consistent series of 800/ 1500m races this season resulting in him breaking the club record twice for 800m & 3 times for the 1500m, He is ranked 7th in the UK for both events. Of the races ran this season 8 of his 800m have been above grade 1 standard (from 2:20.5 to 2:14.99) and all 4 1500m races have also been at least 10 seconds above grade 1 standard (from 4:39.0 to 4:34.6) which is a phenomenal achievement for the 12 year old, who now takes a deserved 2 week break!
The remarkably consistent Dylan Bowley in action in the 800
where he set a new club record of 2:14.99
Other outstanding performances saw Fran Ashworth finally set a superb new 800m PB of 2:13.43 following her two successive 400m PB’s and championship Gold medal as anchor leg in the 4x400m relay squad to cap a superb 5 days for her. This was a long time overdue for Fran who has struggled to transform her training performances into a fast time and on the evidence of the race where she split in a super-fast 64 seconds and remained fully committed for the second lap there is still more to come this season for the 18 year old?
Fran very happy with her new 800 PB 2:13.43....A long time coming!
Another member of the Gold medal relay 4x400m squad, Ella Palmer also set a new PB in the 400m, which saw her cruise to a swift 58.37 and slice 0.3 seconds from her best and Ella also felt she had more to give, and on this evidence the U20 400m club record currently at 58.3 will be under some pressure from the 16 year old when she becomes an U20 next season?
The final member of the squad to record a new lifetime best was steeplechase specialist U20 Jack Hope who ran his first 800m in 2 years, and he easily beat his previous best by over 6 seconds to go through the magical 2:00 barrier for the first time with a swift 1:59.14, Jack looked very comfortable in the shorter distance race and showed he has a decent turn of pace when called upon!
Jed Hayes capped a superb season with another 1:55 clocking, just off his PB and will now take his 2 week break in readiness for the autumn/ winter season.
A terrific evenings running and now Fran & Ella join with the original members of the 4x400m squad (Jess Gordon/ Abigail Coleman) who have returned from their summer holidays in reediness for a 4x400m guest relay race with the intention of breaking their own club record & possible go sub 4:00, best of luck to the quartet.