Silver for Seyfu, New London School Champions and Records galore

The season is starting to build with the Southern Championships and School Championship races taking place in what was another bumber club record breaking weekend.

Seyfu claimed silver in the Southern 5,000m with George Gurney 5th. At a hot Battersea Park Trey Corlis (JB 100m) and Imani Quamina (JG 75mH) both claimed gold with Magdeline Paitoo (JG 200m) silver. Thomas Archer was in 1500m action at Watford. Andrew Jones set a new Club best in the V55 400m. Jo Irwin recorded an Age Group win in the sprint triathlon at Eton Dorney.

SEAA Southern Championships, Bedford

The Club had good representation in the 5,000m races Southern Senior Championships at a very hot Bedford. In the Mens race Seyfu secured the silver medal finishing 2s behind F Slemeck of Hercules Wimbledon. George Gurney was 5th with Kieren Morris 10th. In the womens race Evangelista Divetain finished 5th in a race won by H Dixon of Cambridge Harriers. James Hamblin competed in the Senior Mens Hammer throwing a season best and new club record of 57.41m, an improvement of 3cm to secure 3rd place and the bronze medal.

SEAA Southern Championhips, Bedford 12.6.21

5000m SM

2nd Seyfu Jamaal (U23M) 15:05.01

5th George Gurney 15:35.93

10th Kieran Morris 16:07.63

5000m SW

5th Evangelista Divetain 18:45.90

Hammer SM

3rd James Hamblin 57.41m New Club Senior Record

London School Championships, Battersea Park

The meeting highlighted the impact Covid restrictions and lockdown have had on the sport. Organisers set strict performance requirements to take part as well as very restrictive protocols; athletes could only enter one event, no parents, no starting blocks and three sessions between which the stadium had to be cleared. As a result many events were poorly attended partly as many schools did not start any athletics until after half term. Many Clubs also struggled to provide their Juniors with track time demonstrating how lucky we have been at Heathside.

Three Heathsiders took part; Imani Quamina was the only participant in the JG 75mH but still produced a PB by 0.17s and new club U15G record of 12.02s to take the gold medal. Magdeline Paitoo was next up in the 200m, she ran a strong bend but appeared to then injure her arm inhibiting her run in finishing 2nd. Finally Trey Corlis is now London Schools Junior Boys Champion winning in a new PB of 11.80s despite not being able to use blocks at the start.

Three fantastic performances with Trey (100m, 80mH) and Imani (75mH) just missing out on the qualification standard for the National Schools Championships by a mere 0.2s

London Schools Championships, Battersea Park, 12.6.21

Junior Girls 75mH

1st Imani Quamina 12.02s PB by 0.17s New Club U15G Record AAA Grade 2

Junior Girls 200m

2nd Magdeline Paitoo 27.72s AAA Grade 4

Junior Boys 100m

1st Trey Corlis 11.80s PB by 0.05s AAA Grade 2

LICC Meeting 1, Lee Valley

Middlesex Schools opted not to have a championships but instead used the LICC meeting organised by Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers as a trials meeting over the Saturday and Sunday.

Again a host of stunning performances in the sunshine including a 54cm PB for Martha Jolly in the Long Jump to set a new U15G Club record beating the 4.89m set by Xelia Mendes Jones in 2011. Elsewhere there were a host of PB’s with the club well represented in the 800m and 1500m races. Three juniors who train with Peter Scott at Lee Valley Mia, Billy and David Okyere all recorded PBs. It was also a good day for the Watkins sisters with Issy going below 2.24 in the 800m and Emilia taking 19s of her 1500m PB to record a time of 4.58. The Beale siblings also both recorded 1500m PB’s. Leon Seale ran a PB in the 200m and Marcel Baczek a new Javelin PB by 3m.

LICC Meeting, Lee Valley, 12-13.6.21

Saturday

800m

R1 6th Jack Davis Black (U17M) 2:06.01 PB by 3.5s

R2 4th David Baah-Okyere (U15B) 2:10.48 PB by 3.75s

R3 4th Benjy Bediako (U15B) 2:20.77 PB by 3.25s

R3 6th Billy Fudge (U15B) 2:26.15 PB by 3.3s

R1 3rd Issy Watkins (U15G) 2:23.77 PB by 0.82s

1500m (Men)

R2 1st Roni Kizilkaya (U17M) 4:24.65

R3 1st Fred Beale (U17M) 4:45.98 PB by 30s

R3 8th Eric Beale (U15B) 5:19.93 PB by 11.5s

1500m (Women)

R2 2nd Emilia Watkins (U15G) 4:58.87 PB by 21s

High Jump U17M

2nd Etienne Munday (U17M) 1.60m

Long Jump (Women)

4th Martha Jolly (U15G) 4.98m PB by 54cm New U15G Club Record

Javelin (Men)

4th Marcel Baczeck (U17M) 28.69m PB by 3.2m

Sunday

200m

R1 1st Leon Seale (U20M) 22.26 PB by 0.73s

R1 3rd Magdeline Paitoo (U15G) 27.51

800m (Men)

R2 Koppany Szentes (U13B) 2:29.93

800m (Women)

R1 3rd Mia Rosen (U15G) 2:22.95 PB by 2.1s

80mH U15B

1st Trey Corlis (U15B) 12.53

Eton Dorney Sprint Triathlon, Sunday 13th June

And just to prove Heathside isn’t just about running Jo Irwin recorded an Age Group win in the Eton Dorney sprint triathlon. Jo writes: “For once thankful for the early start with scorching temperatures predicted, Dorney Lake turned into a summer oasis. 23C water temperature and wetsuits were banned for the time trial style start. After a refreshing dip, a flat bike and run completed a well- organised, fun and Covid safe event.”

Eton Dorney Sprint Triathlon, Eton Dorney, Sunday 13th June

Time - 1:22:21 (1st AG), Swim 19:15, T1 - 1:42, Bike - 36:32, T2 - 1:15, Run - 23:34

BMC Grand Prix Meeting

A sunny Saturday evening in Watford saw a high quality field assemble ahead of the Olympic Trials. Thomas Archer took part running in the D Race and despite being bumped around at the start held on to record 3:54.63 his fastest time this season by almost 3s. This is a new Club U20 record.

BMC Grand Prix, Watford, 12.6.21

1500m

Race D 12th Thomas Archer 3:54.63 New Club U20M Record

Lee Valley Sprint Open

Two Heathsiders took part as they sharpen up for the SAL meeting on 20th June.

Lee Valley 100m/200m Sprint Open, Lee Valley, 9.6.21

100m

SX4 4th Leon Seale (U20) 11.05

SX10 1st Glenford Hughes (U20) 12.02 PB

Newham & Essex Beagles Sprint & Hurdles Meeting

In the shadow of the Olympic Stadium Andrew Jones set a new Club V55 record in the 400m in 60.59s over 1s faster than the previous held by Tony Killilea.

Newham & Essex Beagles Sprint & Hurdles Meeting, Stratford, 13.6.21

400m

SM9 5th Andrew Jones (V55) 60.59 PB by 0.9s New Club V55 Record

Paint Job

The Finsbury Park Track Building is also getting a well needed spruce up thanks to the very generous offer of Dulux and their team of volunteers who have donated the paint materials and time to refresh the inside and outside of the track building.

Many thanks to Simon baker and Jo Irwin for the report.