National Champions
8:51am Monday 4th June 2012 in Athletics By Pat Calnan
Blackheath & Bromley are the mens National 10km road race champions winning the title that was incorporated in the BUPA London 10km. Olympic marathon runner Scott Overall showed no ill effects from only having arrived back from the United States the day before the race. He was 3rd finisher and second in the National Championships in a time of 29.26.
Mike Skinner proved that he is getting back to fitness after injury by finishing in 6th with 29.44, and was third Briton. Andy Rayner completed the scoring trio in 32nd place in 32.05.
The womens team of Carolyna Jones Baldock (80th 41.57), Sarah Dowling (95th 42.53) and Jane Bradshaw (96th 42.54) finished in 18th place.
Peter Tucker finished in 9th place in the Edinburgh Marathon in a time of 2.29.52 the fourth time he has finished inside 2 hours 30 minutes. Ian Montgomery made a big improvement to set a new best of 3.28.23. Justine Eastbury also set a new best of 3.37.50 the second fastest by a woman Club member this year and 8th fastest all time.
In the accompanying half marathon Adrian Stocks ran 1.31.35, and Julie Reynolds and Adrian Haley both timed 1.48.09. Julie also ran the 10km in 44.22.
It has been another busy few days for the Club in track and field with some more impressive sprinting in the States. At the NCAA Div 1 West preliminaries James Alaka timed 20.61 in the 200 metres and a wind assisted 10.22 in the 100 metres.
Lorraine Ugen ran a wind assisted 11.34 for the 100 metres and also leapt 6.44 in the long jump.
The Club finished in 4th place in the opening British Athletics League match of the season at Basingstoke. It was a very close match with just 40 points separating 7 of the 8 clubs. Had the Club not had a couple of disqualifications they would have won, but, in truth, gaps in three strings and weaknesses in other events, particularly middle distance, were just as crucial.
Star performance came from Adam Gemili who broke Todd Bennett’s divisional record in the 200 metres with a time of 20.75. This was an achievement in itself, but, what was more remarkable, was that his blocks slipped at the start of the race. Amazingly no recall gun was fired. Had he had a proper start he may well have achieved the Olympic qualifying time for the event.
Oweka Wanogho won the B string 200 in a new best of 21.57 to add to his victory in the A string 100. Jermaine Olasan was the other A string winner with victory in the long jump with a leap of 7.10.
Ed Harrison was just pipped for first in the 400 hurdles and Dan Putnam ran an impressive 47.84 for second place in the 400 behind GB International Rob Tobin who set a Divisional Record.
Elsewhere Sam Brown achieved a fine personal best of 4.60 in the pole vault, as did youngster Oliver Taylor in the 1500.
Despite many other fine efforts, especially in the field from Steve Timmins, Alex Pope, Craig Baker and Mike Van Den Dobbelsteen, it was not quite enough, and the squad will look to improving in the next match at Grangemouth at the end of June.
The South Of England Under 20s and Under 15s Inter Counties took place at Abingdon with a number of Club members selected to compete.
Best performance in the under 20 age group came from Craig Morten who won the 400 hurdles by four seconds in 55.37. He was also 4th in the 110 hurdles. Samantha Brown was second in the womens 400 hurdles in 61.94, a new best, as was the 65.20 Rachel Robinson recorded for 4th place.
Samantha’s sister Gemma was runner up in the discus with a throw of 35.53 and it was second also for Rhiannon Jones in the 100 hurdles into the teeth of an almighty headwind.
First year under 17 Stefan Amokwandoh was third in the triple jump in 13.43 and James Allen 6th on the long jump with 6.21.
Maya Bruney claimed victory in the under 15 girls 100 metres. Her time of 12.81 would no doubt have been quicker had the race not been run into a -3.7 metre per second headwind. Jessica Keene timed 2.32.67 in the 800 metres.
The mens team continued their unbeaten run in the Kent Masters League with victory in the third match of the season last Friday but only just. They finished one point ahead of Ashford and three clear of Cambridge Harriers. Steve Timmins won the over 35s discus with a throw of 39.37. Keith Ewing dominated the over 50s 800 metres winning in 2.09.8 over 10 seconds ahead of the runner up. Dennis Wallington won the over 60s discus. However, with the points so close every member of the squad had an important part to play.
The womens team finished in third place and remain in third in the League table, one and a half points behind second placed Cambridge Harriers. Helen Godsell won the over 50s 100 metres by nearly a second in 14.2 and then teamed up with Maureen Miller, Shirley Rowbotham and Angela Duffy Smart to lead the Club to victory in the 4x200 metres. Barbara Terry won the over 60s discus.
The B team won the Division Two match with Zoe Wood winning the long jump and discus events. She then joined Leyla Ari, Maria Coroian and Jenny Neale in the 4x200 for her third victory of the evening.
Mick Jones was the Club’s first finisher at the latest Bromley 5km park run at Norman Park. He finished in 12th place in 19.18 with Jamie Gosnell 13th and Steve Pairman 15th. First female from the Club was youngster Yasmin Austridge in 143rd with Chloe Kibblewhite 158th and Karen Desborough 313th.
Neil Ayrton was runner up in the event at Bexley in a time of 19.31 with Chris Pike 13th. Glen Turner was 3rd at Hampstead Heath; Steve Haley 20th at Banstead Woods; Brendan McShane 7th at Riddlesdown; and Nigel Haffenden 16th at Greenwich.
As the Club fields teams in all age groups, from under 13s upwards to the Masters age groups, it always welcome new members. The Club has a Competition Policy which aims to provide appropriate levels of competition to all athletes of all abilities.
For further information on your particular interest please e-mail enquiries@bandbhac.org.uk Alternatively leave details on the Club answer phone service on 020 8462 3115.
For all the latest Club news visit the website at www.bandbhac.org.uk
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